Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon teacher charged with sexual assault

A Gurdon High School history teacher has been arrested by the Clark County Sheriff9s Office on a charge of second-degree sexual assault.

According to Clark County Chief Deputy Wes Sossamon, Amy O. Gibson, 26, surrendered to authorities on Monday, June 9, for allegedly having had sexual contact with a 15-year-old male Gurdon student.

According to the affidavit for Gibson's arrest, Gibson has admitted to sheriff9s investigators the sexual contact did occur.

Under Arkansas law, the charge is a Class B felony punishable by five to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and a maximum fine of $15,000.

Also under Arkansas law, according to Clark County Prosecutor Henry Morgan, a teacher convicted of a felony is automatically stripped of his/her Arkansas state teacher9s license.

Morgan said Gibson will likely make a first appearance in Clark County Circuit Court on July 7. He said the case could be set for trial in late July but he predicted the case would be continued until a future court date.

Sossamon said the alleged sexual contact did not involve sexual intercourse and did not occur on Gurdon school property.

According to the affidavit, authorities were notified by Gurdon school officials on or about March 15 possible sexual misconduct had occurred between Gibson and the minor student during November 2002.

"A 15-year-old student enrolled in the Gurdon school system was interviewed and stated there had indeed been an occasion on which a teacher had engaged in sexual contact by touching genitalia of the student," stated the arrest warrant affidavit.

Sossamon said Gibson's genitalia were also touched by the male student during the alleged incident.

Gurdon School District Supt. Bobby Smithson said no administrative action has been taken against Gibson in connection with the sexual assault charge.