Updated: 07/18/2009 3:01 PM KSTP.com | Print Story
By: Becky Nahm

Stewartville Teacher Accused of Touching Students

A Minnesota grade-school teacher is charged with inappropriately touching two of his students.

Francis Allen Skinness, 63, teaches third grade at Bonner Elementary in Stewartville.

According to a criminal complaint, authorities started investigating on April 21 when a Mayo Clinic specialist reported that one of her patients said she was sexually abused by her teacher. The girl identified the man as Skinness.

A detective with the Olmsted County Sheriff's Department interviewed the principal at Bonner, David Nystuen.

Nystuen said four girls from Skinness' class had come to his office on April 20. They said Skinness invaded their space by hugging them too tight or for too long. They also said he would sometimes stand behind them and press himself against them.

Nystuen said the girls told him they gave Skinness a note on April 16 asking him to stop the touching. They said the touching did not stop.

The detective interviewed two of the girls, both 9-years old. Both described incidents of inappropriate touching. They said Skinness would touch them under their shirts or touch his mouth to their ears when he spoke to them.

Investigators questioned Skinness' entire class as well as former students. Some described contact by Skinness that made them feel uncomfortable.

Skinness denied the allegations. According to the criminal complaint, he said he doesn't remember committing the acts and if he did, he did so unintentionally.

Skinness is charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree. Each count carries a maximum punishment of 25 years in prison and a $35,000 fine. He's scheduled to be back in court at the end of August.