First-term Haverhill School Committee member Cheryl A. Ferguson faces restricted access to school properties following her arraignment Wednesday on a charge she allegedly indecently assaulted a teenage boy this week.
Mayor Melinda E. Barrett and school Superintendent Margaret Marotta issued a joint statement Wednesday, around 5 p.m., said they were informed of the 59-year-old School Committee member’s arrest by Haverhill police.
“In an abundance of caution, we have decided to restrict the member’s access to school premises and are taking other precautionary measures until further notice. The safety of our students is our first concern,” the statement said.
Barrett, who is chair of the School Committee, and Marotta added they “will have no comment on the substance of the allegations” since it is a criminal matter.
As WHAV reported yesterday, Ferguson, who represents Ward 3 on the School Committee, was arrested sometime after 7:45 p.m., Tuesday, after the teenager’s mother told police her son was wearing a Halloween mask and standing outside of the 7-Eleven convenience store on Dudley Street, off Main Street, when Ferguson approached him. A police report said, Ferguson allegedly “proceeded to grope his buttocks.” On her way out of the store, police also allege, she again approached him, “this time, grabbing, at his chest area stating ‘oh, you have nipples.’”
A police report quotes Ferguson as saying she was playing Keno, left the store and “poked” the teen on the chest, saying he was “scary.” She denied any other touch.
Ferguson was arraigned Wednesday in Haverhill District Court on a charge of indecent assault and battery and later released on her own personal recognizance and ordered to stay away from the minor and anyone else below the age of 18, adhere to a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew and return to court in December.
According to court records, Ferguson was found guilty of driving while under the influence of liquor, second offense, in 2018, and lost her license for three months. She was also arrested previously for assault and battery in 2019 and other motor vehicle-related charges.