ROGERS : Teacher, 58, arrested on sex, drug charges
Posted on Saturday, September 1, 2007
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/200134/
A long-time Rogers High School science teacher was arrested Friday on sex and drug charges stemming from incidents authorities say occurred in Arizona more than two decades ago.
Paul M. Knutson, 58, was arrested at his home on five felony charges, including sexual contact with a minor, said Little Flock police Lt. Jesse Martinez.
Knutson also is charged with furnishing obscene or harmful items to minors, possession and sale of dangerous drugs, possession and sale of marijuana and possession and sale of narcotics.
Police said the crimes occurred in Scottsdale, Ariz., between 1983 and 1985, but the charges are new. The arrest warrant was dated Thursday.
Knutson will be held at the Benton County jail until his extradition hearing.
Little Flock police went to Knutson’s North Dixieland home around 4 p. m. Friday and asked him to step outside. His wife was also home at the time.
“He didn’t seem surprised at all,” Martinez said.
Little Flock police were not immediately able to obtain the charging documents from Scottsdale police that provide more details about the crimes of which he’s accused.
Despite the age of the reported crimes, Knutson still can be prosecuted under Arizona law.
“The statute of limitations does not apply when it’s a dangerous crime against kids dealing with child molestation,” said Scottsdale Police Department spokesman Shawn Sanders. He did not know any details about the case. Rogers School District Superintendent Janie Darr said she was “shocked” to hear of the criminal charges. “He’s just been with us for so many years, how many, I don’t know,” she said Friday. “But we’ve never had complaints. We’ve had students who want to be in his classroom. I’m just without words.” Martinez said Little Flock police have had no problems with Knutson and have no pending investigations against him.
To contact this reporter: glaroe@arkansasonline. com Information for this article was contributed by John Krupa of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.