High school expresses ‘disappointment’ and ‘sadness’ as performing arts instructor charged with lewd acts

Photo courtesy of University High School

University High School (UHS) teacher Jonathan McCoy Malcolm has been arrested, as announced by University Police Department̢۪s Lt. Lupe Canales-Shrum.

Malcolm, 31, was booked on three charges, including two counts of distribution or exhibition of lewd material to a minor and one count of annoying or molesting children under the age of 18. Details of Malcolm̢۪s arrest are being withheld as the investigation remains open, but Canales-Shrum confirmed that a search warrant was issued to assist with the investigation.

Canales-Shrum also said that as the investigation continues, more charges might be brought against Malcolm.

According to Dr. James Bushman, head of school at UHS, school officials were contacted Tuesday, Jan. 27 and informed of a possible relationship between Malcolm and at least one UHS student. School administrators notified University Police Department that day, and a cooperative investigation with the Fresno Police Department resulted in Malcolm̢۪s arrest shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon on the Fresno State campus.

“While we’re so sad at what’s happened, we’re very pleased that [University Police] did a good investigation and have gotten to the bottom of this,â€Â Bushman said.

Malcolm has since posted bail and been released from custody by the Fresno County jail.

Ryan Tubongbanua / Collegian File Photo

“I’ve got to tell you, it’s impossible for us to express the magnitude of our disappointment, sadness and anger that this event has happened,â€Â Bushman said. “We are devastated that this has occurred on our campus.â€Â

School board to determine actions

Malcolm̢۪s status within UHS is officially undetermined to this point, although in a letter, e-mailed to UHS parents Thursday, Bushman acknowledged that Malcolm is currently on administrative leave until the school̢۪s board of officials decides on a course of action. The board is scheduled to meet this evening at 5 p.m.

“I would think everything is clearly on the table,â€Â Bushman said when asked if terminating Malcolm was a possible course of action.

The school̢۪s board of officials consists of eight members, including four Fresno community members and four Fresno State faculty members.

Bryan Cole / The Collegian

Former Fresno city councilman Henry Perea, Sr., is represented on the board as a community member, while Fresno State representatives on the board include Dr. Vida Samiian (Dean of College of Arts & Humanities), Dr. Michael Caldwell (Department of Music), Dr. Larry Cusick (Department of Mathematics) and Dr. Paul Beare (Dean of Kremen School of Education and Human Development).

Damage control

Starting today, UHS will make available additional counseling for students who may seek such assistance. Other actions to be taken by the school include sending an additional e-mail home to parents and teacher-student discussions within the confines of the classroom.

“We’re going to be asking parents to please remind their children not to spread rumors,â€Â Bushman said.

“Rumors are, as you know with text messaging, a bad thing for everyone. And we all know it’s better if kids keep their ideas to themselves,â€Â he said.

“We really want to work hard to make sure that all of us are keeping measured responses as we move forward, because no matter how you look at it, it’s a bad thing.â€Â

Malcolm has been a teacher at UHS since Aug. 28, 2005, serving as an instrumental music instructor. His duties as an instructor include teaching music theory classes and the conducting of several musical ensemble groups, including an orchestra and jazz band.