Home / Crime and Justice / Principal Arrested for Failing to Report Child Abuse
Principal Arrested for Failing to Report Child Abuse
30 Jun
Summary
- Former principal arrested June 29 on child abuse reporting charge.
- Townsend faces up to five years if convicted of felony.
- Arrest followed internal personnel investigation by district.
Michael Townsend, the former principal of Baldwin Middle-Senior High School, was arrested on June 29, 2026, on a charge of failing to report child abuse. This arrest, a third-degree felony, occurred less than six weeks after a Baldwin teacher faced similar charges, though the connection between the cases is unconfirmed. If convicted, Townsend could face up to five years in prison.
School district officials stated that Townsend had been reassigned earlier in June following an internal personnel investigation. Regional Superintendent Tim Simmons informed families about the arrest, emphasizing the district's commitment to transparency and prioritizing student and staff safety. Townsend, 48, was booked into jail on a $10,003 bond.
