Teacher accused of giving girls pot, alcohol
Senta Scarborough
The Arizona Republic
June 04, 2002 07:15:00

A Glendale charter school teacher is behind bars Tuesday after two teenage girls say he gave them drugs and alcohol, then sexually abused them at his Chandler apartment.

Ronald Henry Harris, 36, was arrested Monday on suspicion of five counts of sexual conduct with a minor, five counts of furnishing harmful materials to a minor, and one count of sexual abuse, Chandler police Officer Emma Bribiescas said. Police are withholding the victims' names.

Harris is accused of inviting the girls, ages 13 and 15, both from Glendale, out for a drive. But police say he took them instead to his apartment on May 24.

Police say the girls were given marijuana and alcohol, then Harris is accused of having intercourse with the 13-year-old and of grabbing the other girl's breast.

The next day, Harris asked the 13-year old to baby-sit for his younger children on Sunday, police said

"When she got there, the kids weren't there," Bribiescas said. "It was just a ruse to get her back to his apartment."Harris is accused of again having sex with the 13-year-olHarris is a teacher at the International Studies Academy, a Glendale charter school, police said. The school did not return calls Tuesday.

Harris is not certified by the State Department of Education, spokesman Tom Collins said. Harris had applied in 1996, 1998, and 2002 for certification but it was never granted.

"He admitted to criminal behavior in his background in his application," Collins said.

Police said Harris knew the girls before the allegations of sexual misconduct but is unknown how he knew them, Bribiescas said.

He is being held at the Madison Street Jail in lieu of a $230,100 bond.