Former Perryville principal charged with not reporting alleged rape; still on paid leave

While serving as Perryville High School principal, Richard Thomas neglected to report student rape allegations last year, police said.

Thomas, 37, of Perryville faces one count of failure to report abuse, neglect or death of a child younger than 18, a class A misdemeanor.

Thomas, who was set to be arraigned Tuesday morning, was placed on administrative leave last September — where he remains — shortly after the events outlined in the case.

On several occasions from late August through early September, Thomas discussed an alleged rape with the victim, the alleged perpetrator and the alleged perpetrator’s mother but did not report the allegations to the Missouri Children’s Division, according to a probable-cause statement filed in the case by Perryville police detective Amber Saupe.

On Aug, 30, 2016, a female student at Perryville High School told police she’d been raped by her boyfriend, also a Perryville High School student, Saupe wrote.

The victim also told police she’d told Thomas about the rape the previous week, Saupe wrote.

The mother of the alleged perpetrator told police she too spoke with Thomas about the allegations against her son the week before the victim contacted police and again Sept. 8, Saupe wrote.

The victim said that in two separate discussions with Thomas, she said the alleged perpetrator “did something to me I didn’t want to happen,” and that “I said no and [the alleged perpetrator] knows it,” according to the statement.

The victim said Thomas summoned her to an empty classroom Sept. 8 and told her to sit at one desk while Thomas and the alleged perpetrator sat together facing her, Saupe wrote. “[The victim said] Thomas asked her question after question but interrupted her when she tried to answer and would not let her talk,” Saupe wrote. “[The victim said] Thomas discussed placing her and [the alleged perpetrator] in In-School-Suspension (ISS) to get them to stop saying things about each other.”

The victim said Thomas told her if she was placed in ISS, “she would no longer have a boyfriend because she would not be able to see him,” Saupe wrote.

Recalling the same meeting, the alleged perpetrator told police Thomas “advised them they needed to stop with all the rape talk and just move on,” according to the statement.

“Rich Thomas has been on administrative leave from Perry County School District 32 since Sept. 21, 2016, as a personnel matter,” school district communications director Kate Martin said Tuesday. “His contract with district 32 expires June 30, 2017. However, on Dec. 14, the board of education voted unanimously to not rehire Rich Thomas as principal of Perryville High School.”

Individuals placed on administrative leave do, however, still receive compensation, she said.

Thomas’ salary is $71,550. He is still an employee of the district, but Martin said that since he’s been placed on administrative leave, he isn’t considered the high-school principal.

Thomas, who served the district for three years as high-school principal, has not been on the school campus or at any school events since he was placed on administrative leave, Martin said.

Jeff Steffens, who has served as interim high school principal since Thomas was placed on administrative leave already has been hired to serve as principal for next school year, Martin said.

Superintendent Andy Comstock declined to comment about Thomas or the case specifically, citing confidentiality laws in a written statement issued Tuesday.

“I can tell you that we follow all state and federal laws for mandated reporting, which are outlined in our staff handbooks and District policies,” he said. “Furthermore, I can tell you that any such report of abuse of a student must be reported immediately to the Children’s Division via a call to the Abuse Hotline. The District provides time and communications means for those reports to be made.”

He also said that, “unequivocally ... our District values the safety of all children above all else.”

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627