Myrtle Beach teacher, counselor charged after 9-year-old reports sexual assault

A Myrtle Beach Intermediate School guidance counselor and teacher on Wednesday became the second and third people arrested and charged related to a report of the sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl that occurred in October, according to Myrtle Beach police.

The school employees turned themselves in to police to faces charges in the incident days after another woman was also charged.

Charged Wednesday were Carole Eileen McMahon, a teacher, and Julie Kristen Farmer Janis, a guidance counselor, both 38. Each was charged with failing to report child abuse or neglect; Janis also was charged with obstruction of justice, according to arrest reports.

After a 9 a.m. court hearing Wednesday, McMahon was released on a $5,000 personal recognizance bail while Janis was released on $10,000 personal recognizance bail, according to the Myrtle Beach Clerk of Court.

Police were preparing arrest warrants for a fourth suspect, a man accused in the alleged sexual assault, but had not located him on Wednesday to charge him, Myrtle Beach police Capt. David Knipes said.

The first person charged in the case was Andrea Lynn Cansino-Antemate, 38, who was arrested on Feb. 6 and charged with unlawful conduct toward a child, according to police records.

None of the women could be reached for comment about the allegations and it was unclear if they had obtained attorneys.

Horry County Schools spokeswoman Teal Britton said McMahon and Janis are on administrative leave pending an investigation into of whether they followed proper reporting procedures as set forth by the school district.

The charges against the three women stemmed from police being notified on Jan. 4 that a 9-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted. A police report was filed that date by state Department of Social Services case worker, who was investigating the incident.

The DSS worker reported to police that the incident occurred in October and was reported to school officials in November. The girl told officials her mother’s boyfriend sexually assaulted her while she was trying to sleep, and she was afraid to stay in the house.

The girl said she told her mother and school officials about the assault.

The DSS worker took the girl into protective custody and police detectives began investigating in January.

Janis and McMahon have worked with the school district since August 2001 and August 1999 respectively, Britton said.

The district’s regulations dictate that any school employee who learns about a child being abused or neglected report the situation, but a timeframe in which that must be done is not listed in the handbook.

“The teacher or other school employee suspecting the abuse must make an oral report by telephoning, or otherwise, which includes the following information to law enforcement or the department of social services,” according to the handbook, which cites the name and address of the student, their caretaker, the extent of the abuse or neglect and any other pertinent information. Employee also must notify their principal about the suspected case of abuse or neglect and the report.