PEORIA, Ariz. — A Sun Valley Elementary School teacher was arrested and booked on five counts of molestation of a child and one count of sexual abuse of three different fifth-grade students, court documents say.
Ricky Ordway, 43, allegedly reached under an 11-year-old student's dress in February when she was seated on his desk during class hours and molested her, according to court documents.
In a forensic interview, the victim said it felt weird and made her uncomfortable.
Court documents say Ordway committed four more counts of molestation with another female student between Sept. 2018 and May 6. Ordway would call the student up to his desk, put his hand on her leg and asked her inappropriate questions as he moved his hand up her leg.
Ordway allegedly unbuttoned the victim's pants, put his hands in her pants and molested her. The same thing happened the next day to the same girl, and Ordway told the victim she couldn't tell anybody or he would get fired, the court documents say.
A third victim was sexually abused by Ordway, according to court documents, another one of his fifth-grade students. Ordway reached into the bra of the victim and squeezed her breast. This also happened multiple times from Sept. 2018 to May 6, court docs say.
During forensic interviews, the three victims said names of other possible victims, which police will interview.
Orway was arrested on Tuesday and he denied all allegations and said the victims were lying, according to court documents.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Peoria PD at 623-773-8311 or Silent Witness at 480-948-6377.
The following message was sent to parents of the school from the Peoria Unified School District on Tuesday.
Dear Sun Valley Parents and Guardians:
This morning, Sun Valley fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Ricky Ordway, was arrested for alleged misconduct with students at school. Last week, a student and parent brought allegations of inappropriate conduct to our attention and we immediately notified the Peoria Police Department. We also notified our fifth-grade families that Mr. Ordway would not be returning to class due to a personnel matter.
We share this with you today, as you may see this news play out publicly. We want you to know that the safety and well-being of our students always has, and always will, remain our number one priority. Our immediate focus is to ensure that we maintain quality instruction and student support through the end of the year.
Peoria Police have asked that if you have any information regarding this situation, that you please reach out to them directly at 623-773-8311 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
Sincerely,
Peoria Unified Communications & Public Relations