Charges Dropped Against MCHS Principal Ceglinski

All charges against McCracken County High School Principal Michael Ceglinski have been dismissed.

Prosecutors agreed Friday to drop a charge of failure to report child abuse, which Ceglinski had been facing in relation to a sexual abuse investigation involving the school's former fishing coach John Parks. The charges against Parks were brought after parents of a student contacted deputies about alleged abuse three weeks after originally reporting it to school officials. 

Ceglinski's case was submitted for confidential mediation before retired McCracken County Circuit Judge Jeff Hines on Thursday. Hines found that Ceglinski was prematurely charged because he had not had the opportunity to complete the required investigation to determine reasonable cause existed to believe the student had been sexually abused.

McCracken County Attorney Sam Clymer released a statement Friday, saying that while Ceglinski could have handled things in a better way, his actions did not rise to the level of a crime.

"I’m not saying that the matter was handled correctly. Ceglinski was made aware that Parks was making a child feel uncomfortable and that the child was actually quitting the bass team because of it. Ceglinski reached out to the child’s mother the next day but then 10 school days passed without him following up and reaching back out to her," Clymer said. "I understand that many significantly negative things were going on at the school during this time, but there should not have been such a lag on the investigation. Truly, Mr. Ceglinski got side tracked and 'dropped the ball'. He was redirected toward the investigation when the child’s mother reached out to him. Forgetting to follow up on his investigation was by no means conscientious on his part and could even be argued negligent. However, what it is not is criminal under Kentucky law."

McCracken County Schools Interim Superintendent Heath Cartwright said in a letter released Friday Ceglinski will be resuming his role as principal effective immediately.

"As we have all been doing everything that we can to bring about a sense of normalcy, I am proud to be able to bring a conclusion to this issue by officially reinstating Michael Ceglinski to the position in which he has proudly served since the inception of McCracken County High School." Cartwright said.