Students charged with sexual abuse
by Jason Stone

CAVE CREEK – The two Desert Arroyo Middle School students who allegedly committed sexual offenses on campus last year were charged March 6 with multiple counts of sexual abuse and will be prosecuted as juveniles.

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said this week that Jordan Finley and John Christ, who were 13 at the time of the alleged offenses, would go through the juvenile court. Thomas also announced that Finley was charged with eight counts of sexual abuse and Christ was charged with three.

In other developments, the Cave Creek Unified School District announced the departure of Social Studies teacher Craig Bragg, who allegedly turned the other way when many of the acts happened in his classroom. It was unclear at press time, however, if Bragg was fired.

Finley’s charges include once count each of child molestation, attempted sexual conduct with a minor, disorderly conduct and assault and two counts each of public sexual indecency and indecent exposure. Christ was charged with one count each of sexual abuse, disorderly conduct and indecent exposure.

“Our schools must remain a safe haven from violence and sexual bullying,” Thomas said. “No child ever should be subjected to sexual assaults or indecent exposure in a classroom.”

Police have also released more details about the nature of the crimes the two have allegedly committed.

Scottsdale Police said the allegations against Finley include digital penetration of a female student, repeatedly grabbing the breasts of other students, punching one female student’s breast, masturbating in class and the library, rubbing his penis on a female student, plucking his pubic hair out and throwing it at other students and repeatedly exposing his genitalia in class.

The allegations against Christ include grabbing a female student’s breast and “mooning” fellow students.

Police have also said most of the acts took place during school hours from approximately April to October 2006.