Maine Parents Protest After Alleged Student Assault at Wiscasset School

Parents in Wiscasset are calling for answers after a 14-year-old student was allegedly assaulted by an 18-year-old student at Wiscasset Middle High School last week.

According to WGME, the incident happened on May 19 during a gym class where middle school and high school students were together. Officials say that arrangement was not supposed to happen. The students had reportedly been playing 3-on-3 basketball, and at one point, there were no adults in the room.

It is still unclear what led up to the incident, but the game ended when the 18-year-old allegedly put his hands on the younger student.

The 14-year-old’s parents say they believe the school downplayed what happened and did not initially contact police. The student’s mother, Ashley James, said she noticed strangulation marks on her son’s neck and later learned the other student involved was 18 years old.

The news station reported that the family contacted police themselves. Wiscasset’s police chief says the 18-year-old was arrested the next day at his home and charged with aggravated assault. He has also been suspended from school.

On Tuesday, parents held a protest outside the superintendent’s office, calling for more accountability and better student safety in Wiscasset schools.

Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Andersson told CBS 13 that safety has been an issue at the middle high school over the past couple of years and said a new principal with 21 years of experience handling school safety issues will begin July 1.

The 14-year-old’s family says he is physically okay, but still shaken by the incident. A court date for the 18-year-old is scheduled for June 10.