A Hopkins elementary school employee faces sexual abuse charges for allegedly inappropriately touching female students.
David Joseph Madrigal, 54, is charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct in connection with the incidents at Eisenhower Elementary School, 1001 Hwy. 7. Charges say Madrigal, who is employed as a student support specialist, touched at least two students, while investigators found sex-oriented websites on his computer, along with Post-it notes referencing other sex-themed websites.
In statement, Hopkins Schools communications coordinator Jolene Goldade said families with additional information are encouraged to call Hopkins police.
"We are deeply concerned about these unsettling allegations and how they may have impacted our students and our community. We will continue to work with the Hopkins Police Department to insure a safe learning environment for all students," Goldade said in a statement.
Goldade said that school staff acted quickly to place Madrigal on leave and obtain a no-contact order to keep him away from the school, students and staff. She declined to comment further citing data privacy laws.
Madrigal is jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail and is scheduled to make his first court appearance Tuesday. His criminal history includes convictions for carrying a pistol without a permit, possessing alcohol in a public park and hit-and-run. Before joining the Hopkins school district, Madrigal worked as a special education assistant for the Minneapolis Public Schools from 2005 to 2014, when he resigned in lieu of being fired for showing up to work intoxicated and swearing at a student.
According to the criminal complaint:
On April 6, counselors at the school received an anonymous letter advising them that Madrigal, who joined the school in 2015, was touching sixth-graders "in a manner that made them feel scared." Officials identified the students who wrote the letter and removed Madrigal from the school. After searching Madrigal's workspace, where they found the Post it-notes and internet search history, his computer was given to the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for further examination.
