Fairfax County, Va., police charged a teacher at an elementary school with sexually assaulting a student.
Sean Lanigan, 43, of Centreville, a physical education teacher at Center Ridge Elementary School in Centreville, turned himself in to police on Friday. He is charged with abduction and aggravated sexual battery of a juvenile under 13 years old.
On Jan. 12, the victim was working with a small group of students helping Lanigan clean up the gym when Lanigan picked the girl up, touched her inappropriately and carried her into a nearby room, police said.
When the girl tried to leave, Lanigan pushed her down and lay on top of her, police said. When the girl said she had to go, Lanigan released her, according to authorities.
Lanigan, a full-time teacher with the school district since 1997 who has been at Center Ridge since 1998, was suspended without pay pending investigations by police and the school district.
Lanigan coached the Herndon High School boys soccer team the past two seasons, and he was expected to return as coach again this spring, according to Herndon High.
