The Booneville School District employee that recently resigned amid an investigation by the school district and law enforcement has been identified as 39-year-old Mark Aaron Smith, a teacher with the school district.
Smith was booked into the Logan County Detention Center Friday morning on charges of video voyeurism. Eleven different girls ranging in age from 13 to 17 were identified on cell phone videos changing clothes after Smith’s phone was found hidden in a soap dispenser in the a girls restroom in the gymnasium at the school.
School officials had placed Smith on administrative leave after the incident came to light. After the phone was discovered Smith acknowledged it belonged to him but said he had no idea who it came to be hidden in the girls bathroom. Upon obtaining the password to the phone and unlocking the video, investigators said Smith can be seen starting the video and placing he phone om the dispenser.
Officials say he also downloaded the video of the girl’s bathroom to his classroom computer.
Smith resigned from the district shortly after the investigation began.
According to state law, the crime of video voyeurism is a Class D felony. If found guilty, Smith would also be required to register as a sex offender.
The school district has offered counseling to any female student in grades 7-12 and released the following statement to the press:
“The Booneville School District is aware of an incident involving a staff member that occurred on campus on August 30, 2017. The staff member was on administrative leave pending an investigation by the District and outside law enforcement agencies. The employee has since resigned. The District is fully cooperating with all outside investigations, and parents of affected students have been notified. The safety of our students is our number one priority, which is evidenced by the swift action the District took when the incident became known. All female students in grades 7-12 have been given general information concerning this incident, and counseling has been made available to them. As this is a personnel matter, the District cannot legally comment any further.
