Employee at Batesville district arrested in sex case

2 charges regard assault of girl, 17

Daniel Benjamin Roach, a Batesville School District employee was arrested Tuesday and charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault, according to court records.
Daniel Benjamin Roach, a Batesville School District employee was arrested Tuesday and charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault, according to court records.

A Batesville School District employee was arrested Tuesday and charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault, according to Independence County court records.

Daniel Benjamin Roach, 34, is a district information-technology employee and has been placed on paid administrative leave pending further investigation, district spokeswoman Megan Renihan confirmed Wednesday.

The Independence County sheriff's office was contacted Jan. 15 about a possible sexual offense involving a 17-year-old girl, according to an affidavit. The girl's parents reported discovering nude photos and videos on the girl's phone purportedly sent to her by Roach, the affidavit states.

The girl told deputies she was an aide to Roach during the school year and they had exchanged phone numbers, according to the affidavit. Toward the end of last year, the girl told deputies, she and Roach began exchanging nude photos and videos, the affidavit states.

The girl told officers that she would babysit for Roach and his wife, the affidavit states. The last time she saw Roach was Jan. 15 when they spent time alone at his home, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit said that Roach confirmed to deputies that he had engaged in sexual activity with the girl on Jan. 15.

Roach remained in the Independence County jail in lieu of $500,000 bond, according to an online roster.

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