IPS teacher charged with sexual misconduct with a minor

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis teacher and former coach faces multiple counts of sexual misconduct.

Gordan “Darnell” Bass, 53, of Indianapolis, was arrested on June 27 after being accused of touching a student’s private parts.

Bass was officially charged on Monday with four counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, a Level 5 felony; child seduction, a Level 5 felony; and dissemination of matter harmful to minors, a Level 6 felony.

Bass is listed as a Behavior Modification Specialist at James Whitcomb Riley School 43, according to an Indianapolis Public Schools website. IPS confirmed Bass is employed with the district as a teacher but has been suspended pending the current investigation.

According to court documents, the victim was a student whom Bass mentored. Indianapolis police were notified about the allegations against Bass on the morning of June 27.

Court documents reveal that the victim had been staying at Bass’s home on Laurel Hall Drive for roughly four weeks and woke one day to Bass allegedly touching the student’s private parts.

The student allegedly was staying with Bass as part of his athletic training and had been mentored by Bass for some time. The student told police Bass would lie in bed and watch movies with him and would even massage the student.

According to the student, after waking up and finding Bass’s hands down his pants, Bass jumped up and quickly exited the room.

The student was conflicted reporting Bass, according to his account to police, due to the benefits his mentor relationship had brought into the student’s life — such as training with overseas basketball players.

Police spoke with Bass on June 27 about the allegations. According to court documents, Bass told investigators that he did lay in bed watching movies with the student and would give the student massages.

Bass reportedly told investigators he might have accidentally touched the student’s privates during a massage but denied ever touching the student sexually or with “malice.”

If convicted, Bass could face up to six years in prison on a Level 5 felony.