Is Las Vegas kindergarten teacher Melvyn Sprowson being unfairly prosecuted?

Is Melvyn Sprowson being railroaded? (Photo credit: StevenW.)

Melvyn Sprowson had relationship with 16-year-old girl

Melyvyn Sprowson, who had recently relocated to Las Vegas from California, was in his first year teaching a kindergarten class at the Wengert Elementary School.

He’s been described by neighbors as nice but quiet and, up until his arrest, there did not appear to be any concerns about his teaching ability or any improper relationship with any students he taught or interacted with.

He was arrested on Nov., 1, and charged with one count each of:

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• first degree kidnapping
• child abuse or neglect
• contributing to the delinquency of a minor
• providing a false Statement To Obstruct Public Officer

The charges stem from a relationship he was having with a 16-year-old girl.

The unidentified girl did not attend the school that Sprowson taught at nor did she meet him through any official school channels.

Rather, she met him on Craig’s list.

She wanted to leave her home and was seeking a roommate.

Sprowson allegedly sent her some money and later picked the girl up from her home.

Melvyn Sprowson (Photo: 8 News Now)

She left voluntarily.

CCSD Police Sgt. Mitch Maciszak said,

She was a willing participant in this whole incident – there was no force used she was found in good health and unharmed.

There have been differing reports on her home life, however initial reports indicated that the girl’s mother did not even file a report on her daughter until she had been missing for a month.

The mother, who shielded her identify, appeared in a brief televised interview and did not shed much light on the situation.

Sprowson was questioned by police before his arrest and said that he had never met the girl, although, she was living at his home and allegedly sharing his bed.

Police are saying that even though the teen was a willing participant, she could not legally consent because of her age, however, remember, the age of consent is 16 years of age in Nevada.

Student teacher relationships are always the subject of intense scrutiny.

In Nevada, although the age of consent is 16, there are special circumstances that prohibit student teacher relationships, however, those provisions do not apply in this case.

Discipline and justice vary widely from state to state

Tommy Taylor, a longtime teacher in South Carolina was accused of numerous sex crimes and possessed pornography, including photographs and videotapes depicting young boys.

A student even came forward and said he was molested yet  Tommy Taylor did not plead innocent or guilty.

Instead he used an Alford plea and did not receive any jail time, nor does he have to register as a sex offender.

Sprowson has a consensual relationship with a 16-year-old and it appears that authorities are determined to make a case against him.

They have already said he enticed the teen to leave her home and claims that falls under the kidnapping statute.

Bail for Sprowson was set at $530,000 during a hearing on Nov. 6, and he remains at the Clark County Detention Center.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 9.

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• Bail set at $530,000 for teacher accused of kidnapping teen
• Melvyn Sprowson, Las Vegas teacher arrested for kidnapping

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