West Virginia Teacher Fired After Arrest on Child Sex‑Abuse Charge
Jackson County, West Virginia teacher Emily Joy Wise, 38, was arrested Jan. 14 by the West Virginia State Police and charged with sexual abuse of a child under 16, according to jail records cited by local media. Jackson County Schools said it immediately suspended her under West Virginia law requiring removal of any employee under investigation for conduct that could jeopardize student health, safety or welfare, and has since terminated her employment. The district said it has notified the West Virginia Department of Education’s licensure agency about the arrest and fulfilled all other mandatory reporting obligations, a step that could affect her teaching license. Authorities have not released details of the alleged abuse, but Wise is being held at South Central Regional Jail on $250,000 bail while the case proceeds. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about vetting and oversight of school personnel amid a steady stream of local cases nationally involving educators accused of sexual misconduct with minors.
📌 Key Facts
- Emily Joy Wise, 38, was arrested Jan. 14 by West Virginia State Police and charged with sexual abuse of a child under 16.
- Jackson County Schools says it suspended Wise immediately upon learning of the allegation and has since terminated her employment.
- The district has notified the West Virginia Department of Education’s licensure agency and completed other mandatory reporting after the arrest.
- Wise is being held at South Central Regional Jail on $250,000 bail; investigators have not publicly detailed the alleged conduct.
📊 Relevant Data
Most perpetrators of educator sexual misconduct are male, with 89.1% being male according to a study analyzing 20,000 reports from 2014 to 2018.
Educator Sexual Misconduct Remains Prevalent in Schools — Psychology Today
False allegations of sexual assault, including child sexual abuse, occur at a rate between 2% and 10%, based on an analysis of ten years of reported cases.
False allegations of sexual assault: An analysis of ten years of reported cases — National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Victims of school employee sexual misconduct span most demographic characteristics, though students who are low income, female, and in high school are at higher risk, according to a 2017 NIJ study.
A Case Study of K–12 School Employee Sexual Misconduct — National Institute of Justice
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time