UPDATE: State Seeks Indictment Against Former Middle School Parapro

UPDATE: 1-3-13, 6:55 p.m.

A case against a former paraprofessional at a Forsyth County middle school will need to be presented to the Grand Jury for an indictment before the defendant can be formally arraigned.

The Jan. 2 court date listed on bond paperwork is just a date when Marvin Shane Pilcher, 26, had to report to the DA's office to provide current contact information.

Cumming Patch learned today from the Forsyth County District Attorney's Office [Thursday] that the court date of Jan. 2, assigned to Pilcher is the date that appeared at the bottom of his bond as an arraignment date from the Forsyth County Detention Center.

"However, because he is facing felony charges [one count of sexual battery against a minor] his case must be presented to the Grand Jury for indictment before he is formally arraigned," said Cathy McDougal, the assistant to Chief Assistant District Attorney Sandra Partridge.

As of this writing that date has not yet been determined.

"The only thing that date [Jan. 2, 2013] gave him was to report to the district attorney's office to update his address and telephone number," said McDougal.

McDougal said that the Jan. 2 date is not a hard date, but believes that Pilcher or an attorney updated his address and phone number.

Early last month, Pilcher, a former paraprofessional at Riverwatch Middle School in south Forsyth County, was arrested and charged with one count of sexual battery against a minor, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.

Stay with Cumming Patch on this developing story.

UPDATE: 12-10-12, 5 p.m.

The investigation against Marvin Shane Pilcher, 26, the former paraprofessional at Riverwatch Middle School who is charged with one count of sexual battery against a minor, is still active and ongoing, according to authorities.

“We’re conducting a thorough investigation,” said Major Dan Jagoe, of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

Pilcher was released from the Forsyth County Detention Center on Friday, Dec. 7, on a $5,610 bond, according to Karleen Chalker, spokesperson of the FCSO. He is scheduled to appear in Superior Court on Jan. 2, 2013.

“The charge against Marvin Shane Pilcher has not been dropped,” wrote Chalker in an e-mail to Cumming Patch. “He is still charged with sexual battery against a minor.”

UPDATE: 12-5-12, 7:46 p.m. (statement from Forsyth County Schools)

Original Article:

A paraprofessional at Riverwatch Middle School in south Forsyth County has been arrested and charged with one count of sexual battery against a minor, according to authorities.

Marvin Shane Pilcher, 26, of Old Atlanta Road, in Suwanee was brought into custody today [Wednesday] and is currently being held in the Forsyth County Detention Center with no bond.

“As a result of the investigation, we made an arrest today,” said Major Dan Jagoe of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

Jagoe said in a press release that the Forsyth County school system contacted the sheriff’s office on Monday after a student at the school made an outcry to officials. An investigation was launched immediately and is continuing.

Jennifer Caracciolo, spokesperson of Forsyth County Schools, released the following statement at 7:29 p.m. Wednesday.

The administration at Riverwatch Middle School was informed of a sexual battery allegation on Monday, December 3, 2012.  The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office was immediately contacted and an investigation began.

Today [Wednesday] Shane Pilcher, former paraprofessional, was arrested and charged with sexual battery. Mr. Pilcher is no longer employed in the school system. A criminal investigation is ongoing in this matter. 

Forsyth County Schools takes allegations of this nature very seriously. The safety and security of our students is our number one priority. Forsyth County Schools will not tolerate this type of behavior of its employees. Forsyth County Schools will continue to assist the sheriff’s office with their investigation.

The above statement was distributed to Riverwatch Middle School parents and staff this evening [Wednesday], according to Caracciolo.

No additional information is available for release at this time.

Editor's Note: An arrest does not indicate a conviction.

A paraprofessional, often referred to as an aide, is a special-education worker who is not licensed to teach, but performs many duties both individually with students and organizationally in the classroom, according to About.com.