“It started off just what seemed like harmless interaction, just being extra nice to you,” Shannon said.
ARLINGTON, Texas — 32 years ago, during her junior year at Texas Christian Academy, her teacher, Rick Adams, was accused of inappropriate behavior.
In an interview with WFAA, the victim, whom we will only refer to as Shannon, read a letter of apology, which she says was written by her former high school teacher and mailed to her childhood home.
“I know what I did at TCA was wrong. I take 100% of the blame for my actions,” Shannon read from the letter. “I take full responsibility for my thoughts, feelings, and actions towards you. There’s no excuse for my actions. I’m also sorry for the consequences of my sins and how it affected you.”
In 1993, Arlington police investigated and arrested Rick Adams for assault offensive and provocative physical touch, both Class C misdemeanor charges.
Shannon said Adams was never prosecuted, and she did not know why. WFAA is working to find out, and Arlington police are checking whether the 1993 case records have been purged.
“It started off just what seemed like harmless interaction, just being extra nice to you,” Shannon told WFAA. “Making you feel like he wasn’t just your teacher, but he was like your special friend, you know, how about I get you out of class and you can be my teacher’s aide?”
Shannon shared copies of the Arlington Police Report on Rick Adams and the arrest affidavit filed by Arlington Police Officer M.L. Higgins. According to the documents, the alleged inappropriate touching began in September 1992, at the start of the school year.
Adams was also serving as the girls’ basketball coach at the time. The inappropriate touching reportedly took place in the gym or Adams’ office. TCA became aware of the alleged inappropriate touching in 1993 during the same school year.
Newman Academy Police Chief Matthew Antkowiak said Adams has since been investigated twice while at Fort Worth ISD for inappropriate relationships with students.
Still, Newman Academy hired Adams according to the chief because he cleared their background check, and now Adams is part of a new investigation involving inappropriate behavior with two students.
Adams faces charges of failure to report a teacher-student inappropriate relationship at Newman Academy and tampering with evidence.
Shannon expressed her distress about the new accusations.
“You see his face in the news again, you hear there’s been an incident,” Shannon said.
When WFAA visited his home, Adams declined to go on camera to respond to the case involving Texas Christian Academy. He referred WFAA to his attorney Chad Lee, who has not returned a telephone call.
After learning about the additional accusations, Shannon is sharing her story and offering advice to other victims.
“Find a trusted teacher or parent,” Shannon said, “someone that you trust and tell them.”
Newman International Academy’s Police Chief also encourages anyone with information to come forward. Those interested in sharing information about additional victims can contact their local law enforcement agency or email report@newmanacademy.org.