The principal at Brighton Charter High School thought his wife “appropriately” handled a situation in which she allegedly had sexual contact with a 17-year-old student during a field trip.
Only after receiving more information about the incident did the school inform police a few days later, said principal Chris McCandless, who responded to questions this week from Brighton School District 27J about his handling of the matter.
But McCandless’ letter doesn’t say what was revealed that led to the call to police. Since then, his wife 29-year old Carrie McCandless has been charged with sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Superintendent Rod Blunck said the school board will meet with the governing board of the charter school Monday. School board member Virginia Guzman declined Wednesday to say what the board hopes to get out of the Monday gathering.
“We’d feel better if we wouldn’t say anything right now,” Guzman said.
Carrie McCandless is alleged to have had a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old male senior at the school during an overnight trip to the YMCA of the Rockies near Estes Park on Oct. 28. She was the lone chaperone.
On Oct. 31, school officials were made aware that “events” occurred during the trip that required investigation. But Chris McCandless didn’t say what those events were.
Shortly after the allegations surfaced, McCandless asked that he be removed from the investigation because his wife was involved.
The initial reports indicated his wife “handled the situation appropriately, except that (1) she failed to report the incident to school officials and after returning to school (2) communicated inappropriately with the student,” McCandless said.
There was no accusation of child abuse at the time, he said.
But on Nov. 2, charter school board president David Mundy Sr. received information “that threw the initial reports into question.” He notified police and discussed the situation with legal counsel and the charter school liaison, Sam Sakurada.
The school was hampered in disclosing the events because McCandless had removed himself from the investigation and Mundy also was in jeopardy.
Mundy faces criminal charges of failing to report child abuse and witness tampering in the McCandless case.
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
