COLQUITT COUNTY, GA (WALB) -
The Colquitt County High School band has been silenced, at least for Thursday, after the arrest of its band director. Paul Guilbeau is charged with sexual assault of a student.
The 42-year-old man had sexual contact with a teenager.
"He was placed under arrest this (Thursday) afternoon. He did not cooperate during the interview. He declined to talk to us and requested to talk to his attorney," said Investigator Steven Colgan with the Moultrie Police Department.
"It's disgusting," said former student Jessica Contreras.
Now parents and former students are reacting to the news.
"It's surprising because you never think something like that is going to happen in your town and to know it's a teacher you actually knew, makes it pretty crazy," said Contreras.
"I just thought it was kind of bizarre because teachers are supposed to be trying to teach their students whatever they're suppose to be teaching them, not looking at them as having a relationship with them," said former student Cristian Contreras.
Police would not tell us the age of the student or whether the alleged sexual contact was consensual, but they say it did not happen on campus.
Contreras says either way, the contact was inappropriate and shouldn't have happened.
"I'd have that guy locked up for as long as possible. You try to send your child to school to get an education and it's hard to trust any teacher when something like that happens," said Cristian Contreras.
"It's scary to know that you can't trust anybody or to even think that somebody thinks like that about their student is nasty," said Jessica Contreras.
Guilbeau is suspended indefinitely and further disciplinary action will take place, if necessary, when the investigation is done.
Schools superintendent Dr. Samuel DePaul told us if the allegations are true he is very disappointed in Guilbeau.
Police won't tell us how they found out about the suspected crime or the student's gender.
They expect to release more information Friday.
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