Teacher claims no knowledge of lewd conduct in classroom
Police report provides details, school district remains mum
by Kathleen Stinson

SCOTTSDALE – Police released a lengthy report last week providing graphic details of student sexual misconduct in a classroom at Desert Arroyo Middle School in the Cave Creek Unified School District.

The acts allegedly took place in the classroom of Social Studies teacher Craig Bragg, although Bragg claims he did not know it was going on.

Scottsdale police arrested two 13‑year‑old male Desert Arroyo students in connection with alleged sexual misconduct involving a series of acts which took place beginning in late August when the school year opened. One teen was arrested Oct. 17 and the other on Oct. 27. According to Sgt. Mark Clark, police expect a third male student to be charged in connection with the incidents. They have turned the case over to the County Attorneys’ Office which has yet to file formal charges.

“The crux of the investigation involves a series of acts of unwanted touching” of female students’ breasts and male students who exposed and touched their genitalia in public at school, Clark said.

The investigation into the incidents began after a female student reported to the school nurse with a bruise on her breast.

Last month, the school district issued a statement saying an unnamed teacher has been placed on leave, with pay, in connection with facts related to the case.

The district’s investigation is reportedly ongoing, and no further action has been taken. CCUSD is still not offering any further information than previously reported, except for one sentence as stated in a press release update provided last week: “The school and district investigation is currently ongoing and after the district thoroughly reviews the police report, will determine if any additional steps may be necessary.”

In an interview included in the report, police ask Bragg how students could have been “inappropriately touched” in his classroom, to which he replied, “I don’t know how this could have happened.”

The names of the victims and witnesses were redacted in the report.

One witness questioned by police stated that the indecent exposure in fact happened in Bragg’s class. However, all statements by witnesses in the report are allegations and not proven.

According to Sgt. Clark, police did not uncover any crimes committed by Bragg or any of the school staff in connection with the case.

 “She (witness) went on to say that everything happens in Mr. Bragg’s class because he is totally clueless,” the report states. “I (police) asked her why it is like that and she said because he (Bragg) is always busy with something and never looks around and is never watching.”

Another witness stated in an interview included in the report: “Mr. Bragg is usually sitting down at his desk and (student name blocked out) walks into the room, down the aisle and pulls his pants down, in front, and that his back is to Mr. Bragg.”

One witness described Bragg as a “cool” teacher and “really laid back,” the report states. When asked how it was that Bragg didn’t know what was going on in his classroom, the witness said: “Mr. Bragg doesn’t seem like he is ‘in tune’ with what’s going on.”

The Desert Advocate asked CCUSD for a way to contact Bragg for comment but received no reply.

In referring the case to the county attorney, Scottsdale PD recommends formally charging the teenage suspects with sexual abuse, molestation of a child, assault to intentionally or recklessly injure, indecent exposure and public sexual indecency‑minor present.

Reach the reporter at kathleen@thedesertadvocate.com.