By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer
Jack Daymond Allen, 62, of Lake Arrowhead, a teacher currently on leave from Mary Putnam Henck Intermediate School in Lake Arrowhead, was arrested and taken into custody by sheriff’s deputies on July 24 and booked at the sheriff’s Central Detention Center in San Bernardino on an active arrest warrant for multiple child sexual abuse crimes from Pennsylvania.
On Jan. 22 of this year, the Peters Township Police Department in Pennsylvania and investigators from the Homeland Security Department’s Child Exploitation Investigation (HSI) Group discovered that Allen had used an online chatroom to contact a minor in Pennsylvania. HSI agents then contacted the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department’s Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail and the department’s Specialized Enforcement Division, which took over the investigation.
Investigators discovered that Allen was also in possession of child sexual abuse material and was additionally charged and booked for PC 311.11 (a) (possession of pornography).
Detectives have reason to believe there may be additional victims.
When approached for more details on Allen’s arrest, Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station spokeswoman Lyndsi Garrett told the Alpine Mountaineer on Friday (Aug.2) that, at this point in time, all that is known is that Allen had used an online platform to contact minors in Pennsylvania. When asked whether there were any additional charges pending, she said, “There could be additional charges; it’s still under investigation.”
Local Facebook pages were running rampant with accusations and opinions last weekend. About half of the complaints focused on the suspect, while the other half were directed at the school, some of its employees and at the school district itself.
Twenty persons on the Crestline Happenings Facebook page expressed outrage in their opinions over the incident and the persons involved. Only one person, Eva Jane, said, “My kids both went to MPH and never had any problems at all.” Others, however, disagreed.
A 15-year-old girl, who is a junior at Rim High School and wishes to remain anonymous, recently told the Alpine Mountaineer that she was in Mr. Allen’s sixth-grade class back in 2020, when she was 10 or 11 years old. “He stared at girls a lot and always asked the ‘pretty girls’ to help him around the classroom, organizing books and other stuff. He never touched anyone inappropriately, but it was readily apparent that he was a ‘pedo’ (pedophile) and the students often made fun of him when he wasn’t around.”
“I want to know how many people complained about Mr. Allen,” wrote Tracy Ellert, “and with which administrators, and why nothing was ever done. I’m disgusted and furious.”
Echoing Ellert’s thoughts was Tiffany Fleming, who opined, “The administration, especially the principal at MPH, do absolutely nothing they’re supposed to do. We had multiple high-risk issues with our oldest attending that school, which ultimately led to him being homeschooled. The faculty doesn’t know what’s happening on that campus, let alone if your child is safe or even who your child is…. This case, alone, proves that the administration there is incompetent and unwilling to do whatever it takes to ensure your child’s safety.”
Anne Tinomy added, “I don’t even have children, but I knew he was a creep through word of mouth.”
A statement issued by Rim District Superintendent Dr. Paul Sevillano said: “On or about August 1, 2024, the Rim of the World School District received information that Daymond Allen, a District employee, was arrested for inappropriate contact with a minor in another state. Mr. Allen was previously placed on administrative leave and will continue to be placed on administrative leave from his teaching position pending an investigation. Please know that student safety is a top priority for the district, and as such, we are fully cooperating with law enforcement and will continue to do so throughout the course of its investigation. The district cannot comment on any ongoing police investigation involving an employee.”
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Wendy Winegar of the Sheriff’s Crimes Against Children Detail at (909) 890-4904. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should call the We-Tip hotline at (800) 78-CRIME (27463) or (800) 782-7463.
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