Teacher claims she’s racist in defense of child molestation charges

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A teacher accused of sexually molesting a first grader has claimed in her defense that because she’s racist she wouldn’t feel comfortable touching a black child.

Esther Irene Stokes, 61, has been charged with indecency with a child in March, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Stokes, a teacher at Northwest Preparatory Academy in Humble, Texas, allegedly touched the 7-year-old girl’s “private parts” outside of her clothes, reports the Chronicle. The young girl said Stokes sent all of the other students out March 1 and then inappropriately touched her.

But Stokes has denied the allegations, claiming that because she is prejudiced, that would prevent her from ever fondling an African-American student.

The Chronicle goes onto report that girl told Stokes to stop touching her at which time the defendant told her to get out of the classroom, according to court records. The teacher “made her stand outside of the classroom in the hallway and refused to allow her to eat lunch and take a test,” records state.

Stokes denied ever being alone with the girl or not allowing her to eat lunch, the complaint states.

The principal of the school told investigators that a cafeteria printout showed that the girl did in fact eat breakfast March 1 but did not eat lunch that day.

“She (said she) doesn’t like to even touch the black children on their hand, she shies away when they try to hug her — she admitted to being prejudice [sic],” Humble Police Department Detective J. Blanchard told KHOU 11 News.

“This type of accusation has never been made against this woman,” Stokes’ defense attorney Patty Maginnis told KTRK-TV. “She’s completely not guilty of this charge.”

The child’s mother, Shawntel Reace, told the television station that she would be removing all four of her children out of Northwest Preparatory Academy. The school is predominately African-American, with around 90 percent of it students being black.

TheGrio reached out to Northwest Preparatory Academy but they would not give a comment. According KTRK-TV the elementary has sent out a statement saying any parents with concerns are encouraged to contact the school.

Follow Kunbi Tinuoye on Twitter at @Kunbiti