SPRINGDALE (KFSM) — A substitute teacher who worked for the Springdale School District was arrested Wednesday (Feb. 24) on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl, according to Springdale police.
John Russell Ross Jr., 35, was booked into the Washington County Detention Center and released on $15,000 bond Thursday (Feb. 25), according to jail records.
In January, police received a hotline report from the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division claiming a man by the name of JR had sex with an intoxicated minor at an apartment in Springdale, according to Ross’ arrest report.
Police identified Ross as being the JR mentioned in the report, the arrest report states.
On Wednesday, Ross came to the Springdale Criminal Investigation Division and confessed to performing oral sex, as well as other sex acts, on a 14-year-old girl, who was highly intoxicated and passed out, according to the report.
Ross said he knew the victim was underage at the time, the report states.
Rick Schaeffer, spokesman for the Springdale School District, said Ross is no longer employed with the district.
The district has a long list of substitute teachers it’s built over the years and all the substitutes, including Ross, are required to go through a background check, Schaeffer said.
Ross’ next court date is scheduled for March 25.
