Daniel Decker, 39, a former social studies teacher at Highland Middle School in Hobbs, was arrested on Tuesday, April 20, by the Hobbs Police Department (HPD) regarding inappropriate behavior toward two female students. Extensive investigation conducted by HPD officers and detectives led to the arrest.
According to a Wednesday, April 21, HPD press release posted on the HPD Facebook page, “two female students came forward [on April 11] with allegations of Mr. Decker’s inappropriate behavior toward them….”
A KOB 4 news article states, “Decker is alleged to have inappropriately touched the students on campus during school hours and at school-related events.”
The situation with Decker has been evolving for some time. He was placed on administrative leave by Hobbs Municipal School District (HMSD) on March 11, “…after one student came forward with allegations against him, Four other students then came forward with similar complaints,” states the KOB article.
After being placed on administrative leave, Decker resigned from his job with the school district. He had worked for HMSD for three years.
Girls Came Forward on April 11
According to the HPD press release, the girls, who came forward on April 11, told Highland Middle School staff about Decker’s actions. In turn, staff contacted the school’s resource officer, as required to do by law. As a result a HPD detective was contacted and interviews were conducted with the both girls and their parents.
Next, according to the press release, Decker was contacted by detectives. He voluntarily agreed to be interviewed.
As an outgrowth of HPD detectives’ investigation and interviews, “arrest warrants [for Decker] were sought” on five counts of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor, 3rd Degree Felonies.
Decker was subsequently arrested and is currently being held at the Lea County Detention Center. He awaits arraignment.
A spokesperson for the Hobbs Municipal School District told KOB 4 in an email that the school district “was unable to disclose any additional details.”
What Is Being Said On FACEBOOK
More than 200 hundred comments voicing many thoughts and opinions have been posted at the HPD Facebook page.
Maranda Dyer states, ”How about a THANK YOU to those brave girls for coming forward and getting him out of the school away from the minors. These girls are the real heros.”
Becky Kesner says about HMSD, “Your kids are safe at school. It has to be assumed that Mr. Decker went through all the screening processes performed during his hiring. Once the girls came forward the school acted appropriately. He’s no longer there and will never be hired in the HMS schools system again. It’s very unfortunate the girls had to go through this, but the school did their job correctly.”
Rodney Allen and Yvonne Eunique Wimbish state, “Wow this isn’t taken seriously enough! No one knows the trauma that comes with this that they have to endure for the rest of their lives. Not being able to trust people that they should because someone they trusted took advantage and ABUSED them. My daughter goes to school there. I wasn’t even notified.”
Ava Abernathy states, “I hope the children are offered counseling and they know how incredibly brave they are to come forward with this. They prevented other children from enduring the same abuse. God bless them and their families.”
