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Former Hope Christian school teacher accused of child sex abuse arrested in Idaho
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U.S. Marshals arrested a former Albuquerque Christian school teacher accused of child sex abuse in Idaho on Thursday, according to police.
Kelly McEachran, 66, is charged with criminal sexual penetration and criminal sexual contact of a minor under 13. The victim is an 11-year-old girl who McEachran taught at Hope Christian School, according to a criminal complaint filed in 2nd Judicial District Court.
McEachran鈥檚 lawyer, Christopher Dodd, said that McEachran was on vacation in Idaho and in the process of turning himself in to authorities when arrested.
Since the headlines broke, another former student has come forward alleging abuse, according to an Albuquerque Police Department news release. Other students have also called APD with information about more potential victims.
No additional charges have been filed against McEachran following these allegations.
Hope Christian School could not be reached for comment.
A 2016 video posted on Facebook suggests that McEachran was also a pastor at Legacy Church. In the video, posted on Legacy鈥檚 account, McEachran is referred to as 鈥淧astor Kelly.鈥�
The mega-church鈥檚 attorney, Nicole Westbrook, said he worked in an administrative role a decade ago. The video has since been removed.
In McEachran鈥檚 classroom, the alleged abuse went on for five to six months during the past school year, according to a petition for protection filed by the victim鈥檚 family in 2nd Judicial Court. The girl told police that when she had questions, McEachran would invite her to sit beside him at his desk, where he would touch her inappropriately.
鈥淭he police never sought to get his side of the story 鈥� they went straight to an arrest warrant,鈥� Dodd said.
Police first began investigating the case more than two months ago, according to court documents. Police were first dispatched to reports of child abuse at Hope Christian on April 7.
McEachran was placed on leave that day, the complaint details. Investigators later searched McEachran鈥檚 classroom to corroborate details of the girl鈥檚 story on May 23. A warrant for McEachran鈥檚 arrest was issued Tuesday.
Investigators are urging anyone with information on the case to speak with the department鈥檚 Crimes Against Children Unit by calling (505) 924-6032.
