Former substitute teacher accused of sexually abusing children at elementary school

BY REGGIE KYLE, WBRC DIGITAL STAFF AND GRAY NEWS STAFF

3 hours ago

WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News Staff,

CALHOUN COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) – A former substitute teacher was arrested after allegedly sexually abusing children at an elementary school.

Calhoun County Sheriff Falon Hurst said Jeffrey Owen worked as a substitute teacher, but was not directly employed by any school board in Alabama.

Hurst said a child came forward saying they were abused by Owen during the 2021-22 school year. The child’s sister also said she was sexually abused. Both children were abused at Weaver Elementary School, according to police.

“The child was forensically interviewed at a child advocacy center where she disclosed that a substitute teacher Jeffrey Owen had inappropriately touched her. Her sister ended up disclosing the same information during the course of this investigation. It had happened to her as well,” Hurst said.

Owen is also accused of sexually abusing a child at a school in Anniston, Alabama.

A former substitute teacher is accused of sexually abusing children at an elementary school. (Source: WBRC)

Anniston Police Chief Clint Parris said a child reported that she was sexually abused by Owen in 2025.

“The child actually told her parents, and the parent actually came down and filed the report with us, and they kept in contact with the parents and the school system and worked well with our investigative division to bring this to an end,” Parris said.

Hurst emphasized the importance of parents and guardians listening to their children.

“Please listen carefully to your children and never dismiss allegations of abuse,” he said. “It’s important to talk to the schools, talk to the school employees, listen to your kids, talk to the SROs and know the SROs for those reasons.”

Owen is charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a child younger than 12 in the Weaver Elementary School case. He is also charged with one count of sexual abuse of a child younger than 12 in Anniston, Alabama.