Teacher says she was assaulted by student she tried to help

Published 12:00 pm Saturday, April 13, 2013

A local teacher was assaulted twice by a student she tried to help after she provided him with a job and helped him get his GED.

Tuesday officers spoke with the teacher who said on March 31, she was assaulted by the girlfriend of 18-year-old Alvin Peel of 801 Hunt St., when she came into contact with Peel and asked for her house key back that he allegedly had stolen, said Picayune Police Assistant to the Chief of Police Jeremy Magri.

The teacher said her interaction with Peel began after she helped him obtain his GED and gave him a job in her private business, Magri said. During that time Peel apparently became infatuated with the teacher, Magri said. At some point during the work-related interaction, Peel allegedly took a key to her home and later entered her home in order to leave a note on her bed, Magri said.

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Magri said the teacher then cut all ties to Peel after finding the note and realizing he had a key to her home. When they saw each other at a local gas station on March 31, she asked for her key back, but a verbal altercation ensued during which Peel’s girlfriend assaulted the teacher in her vehicle, Magri said.

Then on Monday the teacher came home to find Peel, his girlfriend and another, unknown female in her home, Magri said. He said the teacher demanded they leave her home. The females left but Peel remained in the home and assaulted the teacher, attempting to choke her, Magri said.

The teacher was able to fight back and get Peel to leave the home, Magri said. The next day she went to the police department to file charges against Peel, Magri said.

On Wednesday, as officers were obtaining an arrest warrant for Peel, the teacher came home to find Peel outside her home asking to speak with her, Magri said. The teacher demanded he leave and went inside to call the police, Magri said. At that time Peel entered the home and assaulted the teacher a second time, Magri said.

Later that same day Peel was taken into custody at his home on two counts of simple assault and two counts of residential burglary, Magri said. He said the investigation is continuing and he expects charges to be pressed against Peel’s girlfriend for the assault at the gas station.