Principal resigns amid sex charges

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http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2005/02/11/principal_resigns_amid_sex_charges/

Principal resigns amid sex charges
February 11, 2005

ENOSBURG, Vt. --The Enosburg Elementary School principal has resigned amid criminal charges that he made unwanted sexual advances toward a 19-year-old man in Florida in November. J. Brent Garrow took a leave of absence Jan. 27 and traveled to Florida to make a court appearance Feb. 2. He offered his resignation Wednesday. The School Board was expected to vote on the resignation Friday, said Mary Sherrer, superintendent of the Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union. She declined to discuss details of Garrow's situation, saying only that community members should feel confident in the Enosburg school. "I think for the most part we have very ethical educators in Franklin Northeast, and once in a while we're disappointed," Sherrer said.

Garrow, 49, a married Enosburg resident, started working at the local school as a teacher in 1979 and became principal in 1999. He earns $58,947 a year. He was arrested Nov. 5 at the Orange Lake Resort & Country Club in Orlando, Fla., and taken to Orange County Central Booking, public records show. He initially pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge. He withdrew the not guilty plea Feb. 2 in an arrangement similar to a plea agreement that will leave him with no conviction on his record. Under the deal, Garrow agreed to report to a probation officer, have no contact with the victim and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.

According to the report written by Officer Pedro Rivera of the Orange County Sheriff's Office, Rivera responded to a 911 call placed by the victim, who was a friend of Garrow's 18-year-old son. Rivera arrived at the resort at 2:35 a.m. and interviewed the victim, who told Rivera that Garrow had "unlawfully and without consent touched him on his private part and attempted to kiss him on the mouth."

Garrow denied the victim's allegations. A temporary principal, Shirley Duso, will run the 288-student school for an indefinite period.

Information from: The Burlington Free Press