Parsons school employee arrested on charge of child rape

A Decatur County School System employee was arrested and charged with one count of rape of a child following an investigation led by the 24th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, county authorities said. The Decatur County Sheriff’s Office arrested Allen Maxwell at his Parsons residence on January 9, 2026, and described the arrest as occurring without incident.

Sheriff’s investigators said they were notified of an alleged criminal incident involving a school employee and immediately met with school administrators. The school system placed the employee on administrative leave and barred the individual from all school campuses and from any contact with students or staff while the investigation proceeds. The sheriff’s office then collaborated with the 24th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, which assumed the lead role and obtained an arrest warrant for Maxwell.

The charge filed is one count of rape of a child. The sheriff’s office emphasized that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The office also said it will continue to support the district attorney’s office as the investigation remains active, and urged anyone with information or anyone who believes they may be a victim to contact the 24th Judicial District Attorney’s Office or the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office.

For families and school staff across Decatur County, the news will heighten concerns about student safety and the protective systems intended to keep children safe at school. Allegations of sexual violence involving a school employee can deeply erode trust in everyday institutions—classrooms, school buses and after-school programs—and can ripple through tight-knit communities like Parsons and the surrounding county. School officials’ quick move to place the worker on leave and bar contact is an immediate containment step, but parents and educators will likely press for clear answers about how the incident was reported and what preventive safeguards are in place.

Healthcare and social services have a role to play as well. Survivors and families may need trauma-informed medical care, counseling and support navigating reporting and legal steps. Local leaders and school boards should consider reviewing policies on background checks, mandatory reporting training, supervision of staff, and communication protocols so families know how incidents are handled.

The takeaway? Keep talking with your kids, check in with school administrators about safety policies, and if you have information related to this case, contact the 24th Judicial District Attorney’s Office or the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office so investigators can follow every lead. Our two cents? Protecting children takes vigilance from parents, schools and the whole community — don’t let this silence the conversation.