Superintendent: American Canyon teacher charged with sex abuse will be fired

American Canyon High School parents and officials who met Wednesday night, on the heels of the arrest of a teacher accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old student, agreed that trust between students and staff needs to be improved.

More than 150 people filled the school’s auditorium for a town hall organized by Napa Valley Unified School District officials to discuss the status of physical education teacher Brad Rowell, 41.

Rowell, who also served as a track-and-field coach at the school, has been charged with 21 felony counts, which the Napa County District Attorney’s Office said are connected to allegations he engaged in unlawful sexual acts with a child.

In her opening remarks, District Superintendent Rosanna Mucetti said Rowell will be terminated and officials have requested the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing revoke his teaching credentials.

“I’m here to tell you he will not return to the Napa Valley Unified School District,” Mucetti said.

For the most part, attendees who publicly addressed officials during Wednesday’s town hall were interested in finding ways to prevent the alleged behavior and its related activities from happening again. They emphasized communication and transparency between students and staff is a key component.

Emily Mortimore, a 16-year-old junior, said rumors were rampant following Rowell’s arrest on campus April 9. She asked officials to find ways to share information and prevent rumors from spreading.

“At the end of the day, all (students) want is the truth,” she said.

Initially arrested April 9, Rowell was released later that day after posting $100,000 bail. He was re-arrested April 12 after further investigation led to new charges, according to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.

On Monday, he pleaded not guilty to 15 counts of committing lewd acts on a child, three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, two counts of oral copulation on a child and one count of possessing child pornography.

Rowell, whose bail following the second arrest was set at $250,000, was still in jail Thursday afternoon.

According to a judge’s order, if released, Rowell will have to surrender his passport, wear a GPS tracking monitor and avoid contact with the teen girl accusing him of the abuse.

On Wednesday, school officials discussed details of the case that were presented Monday during Rowell’s arraignment. This included sexual activity taking place on school property, including in the campus weight room and a janitorial closet.

About a dozen attendees suggested district officials take steps to protect students by monitoring surveillance cameras regularly, organizing discussions about sexual predators and explaining to students they shouldn’t feel responsible if someone abuses them.

One parent asked why it was necessary to arrest Rowell on campus in front of students, which he described as traumatizing to his son.

American Canyon Police Chief Rick Greenberg said it wasn’t ideal but circumstances of the case required police to arrest Rowell right away.

American Canyon resident Ode Aparicio, whose daughter is a freshman, said she was glad officials addressed the allegations against Rowell and laid out as much information as they did Wednesday.

Moving forward, Aparicio said parents and school officials need to continue having conversations with students about identifying and preventing sexual abuse.

“I’m just worried they’re not going to ask for help,” Aparicio said.

You can reach Staff Writer Colin Atagi at colin.atagi@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @colin_atagi