POCOMOKE — A Worcester County public school teacher, charged last summer with multiple counts of sexual abuse of a minor and sexual assault after an investigation into alleged inappropriate actions, was exonerated of all charges last week, although it remains uncertain if and when he will return to the classroom.
Last June, the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) initiated an investigation into the alleged touching of female students at Pocomoke Middle School by one of the teachers. The investigation came in response to a complaint William Albert Cathell, Jr., then 42, of Parksley, Va., who had been a Spanish and foreign language teacher with Worcester County Public Schools for 10 years, had allegedly sexually assaulted female students during school hours.
As a result, Cathell was formally charged last August with 24 total counts including sexual abuse of a minor and various sex offenses. Cathell appeared for trial last Friday in Worcester County Circuit Court and before the trial began 12 of the counts were dismissed. The trial proceeded on the remaining 12 counts and the jury returned in about 90 minutes with not-guilty verdicts across the board.
After he was charged last August, Cathell was placed on administrative leave while his case was adjudicated. It’s unknown at this time whether he will return to the school, Worcester County Public Schools said in a statement this week.
“Following William Cathell’s acquittal Friday, Worcester County Public Schools administration will be evaluating Mr. Cathell’s employment status,” the statement reads. “Mr. Cathell remains on administrative leave until the school system reviews these circumstances.”