1. EachPod

Predator in the Classroom: Jacob Wessel Charged Again Part 2

Author
Chop & Julie
Published
Thu 11 Sep 2025
Episode Link
None

A disturbing pattern of institutional failure at Mooresville Christian Academy has finally come to light with the arrest of Jacob Wessel, a former robotics teacher now facing multiple charges involving minors. For years, school administrators ignored glaring red flags while Wessel allegedly groomed and victimized students right under their noses.

The earliest documented incident dates back to 2021, when Wessel reportedly showed pornography to a 12-year-old student while driving him to a soccer game. Despite the student immediately reporting this to his mother (who worked at the school), administrators allegedly swept it under the rug. Afterward, Wessel began calling the boy a "snitch" in front of classmates – clear evidence that school principal Bruce Peters had spoken to Wessel about the allegations without taking any meaningful action.

Throughout 2022, concerned parents documented multiple disturbing incidents: female students sitting on Wessel's lap during technology class, uncomfortable interactions in hallways, and other boundary violations. Each time, Peters and the school board dismissed these reports as "harmful hearsay and gossip," gaslighting parents who were desperately trying to protect their children.

What makes this case particularly infuriating is the revelation of an "unwritten rule" within Mooresville schools that mandated staff report abuse concerns to administrators rather than directly to authorities as required by law. This created a filter where school officials could decide what warranted reporting – potentially violating mandatory reporting laws and endangering countless children.

When Wessel was finally terminated in December 2024 after texting a 13-year-old student, Peters sent an email to the entire school community praising him as "a wonderful employee" and bizarrely stating, "these types of things happen, and I speak from experience." After charges were filed in May 2025, Wessel went on the run for months before being arrested in August after barricading himself in an Indianapolis home.

As we await Wessel's November hearing, this case serves as a stark reminder of what happens when institutions prioritize their reputation over children's safety. If you've witnessed or experienced abuse, remember: you don't have to report to school administrators first – go directly to police or child protective services. Your voice matters, and speaking up could prevent others from suffering the same fate.

Do you want to advertise with 69 SOUTH?

Visit Rosie's Posy for all your farmstead, sourdough and flower needs at 6082 E. Hadley Rd. , Moorseville, Indiana. 

Ad for 69 South Tees

Scented Jewels
We’ve got the coolest wax melts ever. Dive into a world of many aromas at shopscentedjewels.com

Rosie's Posys Farmstand
Sourdough, Sweets, and Flowers at 6082 E. Hadley Rd., Moorseville, IN

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Disclaimer: All defendants are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY in a court of law. All facts are alleged until a conviction!

Share to: