Former Wewa teacher arrested for sex with student

A former Wewahitchka High School welding teacher was arrested May 1 on felony charges related to a sexual relationship he had with a female student at the school.

Deputies with the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office arrested Parker Eugene Harris Ottoson, 34, without incident on a warrant for three felony charges, said Chief Deputy Chris Buchanan.

He was booked into the Gulf County Detention Facility and is awaiting first appearance on charges of lewd or lascivious battery on a victim between age 12 and 16; lewd or lascivious molestation on a victim between age 12 and 16 by offender age 18 or older; and an authority figure soliciting lewd conduct with student. 

“The investigation is ongoing. At this time, it is unknown if there will be additional charges,” said Buchanan.

Superintendent Jim Norton said Ottoson, who had been hired Jan. 21, was 77 days into his 90-day probationary period when he was let go. He replaced 

When a hire is still within the probationary period, the district can terminate his or her employment without citing a reason. Norton declined further comment, and asked that all questions be directed to the appropriate state or local law enforcement agencies.

Buchanan said Norton’s decision was relayed to the sheriff’s office on May 5 about a possible sexual relationship between Ottoson and a student.

The sheriff’s office then opened an investigation. During a forensic interview, conducted by the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center’s Child Protection Team, the student disclosed that sexual activity occurred with Ottoson, Buchanan said.

Following the arrest, newly hired Principal Ron Hensley issued a statement that said the school “will be offering extended counseling services for any students impacted by the individual involved.

“Additionally, we will be reviewing the facts with our staff and implementing further preventative measures, including a thorough review of our safety protocols and ethical standards,” he wrote. “Our focus continues to be the protection and well-being of every student. We are working closely with the Department of Children and Families and the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office to ensure a full and thorough investigation is completed and that appropriate action is taken.”

Announcement of the arrest was preceded by a vigorous effort on the private Facebook group What’s Wewa Got Going On/ News & Sporting events, administered by Wewa parent Katie Bryant, to publicize the accusation.

The group had started in 2018 following Hurricane Michael, to help share information with people after the storm who might be in a position to help those not active on social media.

Bryant, a former correctional officer who said she endured sexual molestation in her youth, said she works to be an advocate for children. 

“I didn’t have anyone advocating for me when I was younger,” she said. “When you have been sexually molested yourself, and nothing was done about it, it puts a real bitter damn taste in my mouth.”

Bryant said she receives confidential communications from parents, and then checks them out. She in turn will share with the parents of a child if that child is being talked about on social media. 

“The students that were mentioned I made sure their parents knew their names had been mentioned,” she said. “I don’t make a post until I have spoken to someone from the school.”

Brash and outspoken, Bryant said that her years in law enforcement have led to her being more skeptical than many. “Everybody is a suspect, everybody is a victim,” she said. “Nowadays you can’t be too careful. I pick up on things.”

She also said her thick skin has enabled her to withstand public criticism. “It’s such a damn taboo subject they like to shame the people that it happened to,” Bryant said. “I do not understand what the word embarrassed means. I’m not ashamed of any damn thing.”

“The rug is full, There is no more room for anything under that rug,” she said. “We’re not putting anything under it.”