Former Tabernacle Christian School principal indicted on 11 sexual misconduct charges

A former principal at Tabernacle Christian School, Stephen Couch, has been indicted by a grand jury. He faces 11 charges of sexual misconduct. An indictment is a formal charge, and the charges have not been proven in court.

According to the charges, Couch is accused of five counts of molestation of a juvenile and six counts of prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and a student. Franklin Parish District Attorney Mack Lancaster said the accusations cover the years 2004 to 2016, and that Couch served as either a teacher or a principal during that period.

Lancaster said the investigation began in January, when the mother of an alleged victim contacted the Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office. A parent raising a concern with authorities is a step toward protecting children from harm (Proverbs 31:8-9).

Lancaster said five other alleged victims have come forward since then. All of the alleged victims were students at the school during the period in which the accusations were made.

Lancaster said that if Couch is found guilty, he could be sentenced to five to forty years in prison for each count of molestation of a juvenile. He also said that prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and a juvenile is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of $1,000 per count.

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