Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 11, 1994 TAG: 9402110031
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: KAREN BARNES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Aaron Dixon, 36, resigned as principal of Huddleston Elementary School following his arrest Wednesday.
Dixon was charged with sodomy and taking indecent liberties with a minor under his supervision at the Opportunity House, said Lynchburg Police Commander Earl Burnette. The charges allege that an unidentified boy was molested between Nov. 15 and Jan. 31, Burnette said.
Dixon, a Lynchburg resident, was arrested at 4:30 Wednesday afternoon at the police station and later was released on bond.
No court date has been set, Burnette said.
An investigation soon may begin in Bedford County, officials there said.
Bedford County School Superintendent John Kent met Wednesday night with Dixon and accepted his resignation.
"Mr. Dixon is no longer employed by the school system," Kent said. "We have never had any complaint or inquiry about his conduct as an employee."
Dixon worked for Bedford County schools for eight years, the past seven as principal at Huddleston Elementary. There are almost 200 students in kindergarten through fifth grade at the school, Kent said.
Opportunity House has used Dixon as a part-time, on-call paid counselor for two years. His responsibilities included supervision, transportation, helping with homework and meal preparation as well as first aid, said Director Linda Blass. Dixon will no longer counsel there, she said. The boys' group home in Lynchburg houses a dozen residents placed there by the court.
Blass could not say whether the boy still is living at the house.
Public reaction to the arrest was mixed and hesitant.
"He hasn't really provided any real leadership," said Jeanette Childress, the mother of a fourth-grader. "I didn't think he was principal material."
"He's had a love-hate relationship with the community," said Dan Corey, whose son is a second-grader at Huddleston.
Linda Tweedy, who works at Cooper's Corner Restaurant, defended Dixon. "I think most of the community thinks he's innocent."
A Huddleston teacher and parent called Dixon the most caring man she's ever met. "He's a good man and has done a lot for the community," Brenda McGrath said. "I hope people won't jump the gun until he tells his side of the story."
Several other teachers and parents, including the PTA president, did not want to discuss the arrest. Dixon declined to comment Thursday.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.