Region briefs 11/5/15

Naylor assistant principal resigns

NAYLOR, Mo. -- The Naylor School Board recently accepted the resignation of a suspended assistant principal accused of sexually assaulting a female student on campus and directed its attorney to begin the process of revoking the man's teaching credentials. On Oct. 23, a female student reported to the Ripley County Sheriff's Department she had been sexually assaulted by John Franklin Mullins in a supply closet at the school. "Mullins was immediately relieved of his duties and has been criminally charged in Ripley County Circuit Court," according to a news release from superintendent Terry Arnold. Mullins, Arnold said earlier, had been placed on paid administrative leave per state statute. The 52-year-old Gatewood, Missouri, man was charged Oct. 25 with felony first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy and two counts of felony sexual contact with a student. Mullins, who is free on bond, appeared in court Wednesday for arraignment before Associate Circuit Judge Thomas Swindle. Mullins waived formal arraignment and was ordered to appear Dec. 2 for a preliminary hearing in his case. Later in the day, the Naylor School Board met to consider Mullins' alleged conduct, Arnold said. They voted to accept his resignation and to seek permanent revocation of his teaching certificate.

Poplar Bluff man in hospital after assault

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff man is being treated at a Cape Girardeau hospital after allegedly being assaulted Tuesday night by three men, two of whom have been arrested. Just after 8 p.m., police responded to an alleged stabbing, but concluded the victim, Alejandro Gonzales, had been beaten instead. The 29-year-old suffered what was described as a large laceration on the top of his head, a laceration on his nose, which was broken, and abrasions to his left arm. Gonzales initially was taken to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center for treatment, but later was transferred. His condition was not known by press time. A patrolman tried to get information from Gonzales during an investigation, but he reportedly did not volunteer much information before passing out. But officers did learn more from nearby witnesses, who said three men attacked Gonzales at a home on Arkansas Street. Arrested in connection with the incident so far are Buddy Lynn Lacey, whom Gonzales did identify as an attacker, and Joshua Kelly Blocker. Lacey, 38, and Blocker, 33, were arrested during a traffic stop at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

-- From staff reports

Pertinent address:

Naylor, Mo.

Poplar Bluff, Mo.