A Franklinton High School teacher has been arrested for a second time in recent weeks for crimes involving juveniles.
Jeremy Kendrick McKenzie was arrested Wednesday by the Franklinton Police Department and is facing a charge of prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and students, and a charge of intimidating, impending, or injuring witnesses, injuring officers.
McKenzie is in the custody of the Washington Parish Jail, pending bond, according to police.
This comes just weeks after McKenzie was arrested and accused of indecent behavior with a juvenile.
The Washington Parish School Board addressed that situation in a statement.
“The Washington Parish School Board takes any allegation involving the safety and well-being of a student very seriously. The matter is currently under investigation, and we will respect the legal process and refrain from commenting on specific details while the investigation is ongoing.”
According to Franklinton police, McKenzie was arrested in the Spring after he was accused of hitting a student on the head with the flat side of a machete.
WDSU has reached out to the Washington Parish School Board and the Washington Parish School District for a comment regarding McKenzie’s recent arrest.
The Washington Parish School Board issued the following statement regarding the most recent arrest:
“We are aware of another arrest involving a teacher and want to reassure our community that the safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority. The teacher is not, nor has he been, working at or present on school grounds.
“We take allegations of inappropriate conduct involving a student extremely seriously and will continue to take all appropriate steps to protect our students and maintain a safe learning environment.
“The school system will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement and take any additional administrative action warranted as this matter develops. Because this involves an ongoing criminal case and a personnel matter, we are limited in what we can publicly discuss, including the teacher’s employment status.
“Our focus remains on protecting our students, supporting our school community, and allowing the legal process to proceed.”
A school board member also confirmed to WDSU that McKenzie is the son of Washington Parish School Board Vice President Kendall McKenzie.
READ MORE:Franklinton High School teacher arrested again, accused of crimes involving juveniles
