News Summary
Cedric Gerald, a former principal of Westview Middle School, faces multiple charges including sexual trafficking of a child after allegations from four students. The Riverview Gardens School District has placed him on administrative leave while law firms represent victims and investigate school oversight. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.
St. Louis, MO – Cedric Gerald, a 48-year-old former principal at Westview Middle School, faces multiple charges involving child sex crimes in Missouri. Charged on May 14, 2025, Gerald is currently being held on a cash-only bond set at $1 million. The charges stem from allegations made by four students who reported inappropriate conduct and behavior by the principal.
The accusations against Gerald include engaging in inappropriate video calls, sending explicit text messages, and even requesting sexual acts in exchange for payment. During a police interview, Gerald admitted to some of these allegations. The specific charges he faces include sexual trafficking of a child, sexual exploitation of a minor, possession of child pornography, attempted statutory sodomy, sexual contact with a student, harassment, and two counts of statutory sodomy. The alleged misconduct is reported to have occurred from January 2023 to May 14, 2025.
In his prior role, Gerald worked as the principal of Westview Middle School in the Riverview Gardens School District since 2023, when he was promoted after serving in several educational capacities, including that of an English teacher and literacy coach. Prior to his tenure at the Riverview Gardens School District, he had been employed at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools from 2000 to 2013 without any documented disciplinary actions against him. Furthermore, he had held positions within the Ferguson-Florissant School District and Washington County Schools in North Carolina.
In response to the allegations, the Riverview Gardens School District took swift action by placing Gerald on administrative leave once they became aware of the accusations. The district has also committed to cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities as the investigation unfolds.
Two law firms, Simon Law and O’Brien Law Firm, are currently representing six victims from multiple school districts. The attorneys involved believe it is likely that more individuals have been affected by Gerald’s actions, given his extensive interactions within educational environments. These law firms are encouraging any potential additional victims to come forward with their experiences, regardless of their current location, even if they are outside Missouri.
The allegations against Gerald have raised serious concerns regarding the hiring practices and oversight of school staff in the districts where he previously worked. Both law firms are actively investigating how these institutions responded to the allegations against Gerald, aiming to shed light on potential lapses in protocol that could have allowed the misconduct to continue undetected.
St. Louis County Police are also involved in the investigation and have urged anyone with information related to the case to report it by calling (314) 615-5400. As this investigation continues, further details may emerge, and law enforcement is working diligently to ensure that all victims receive the support they need.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Principal Arrested on Child Sex Crime Charges
Charlotte Community Reacts to Alarming Child Abuse Cases
Charlotte Educators Arrested for Misconduct Allegations
Charlotte Community in Shock Over Former Teacher’s Arrest
Charlotte Man Faces Charges for Child Abuse Materials
Verdict Delivered in Shocking Maryland Murder Case
Concerns Rise in Charlotte Following Teacher’s Arrest for Misconduct
Charlotte Teacher Arrested for Inappropriate Conduct
Additional Resources
- WCNC
- Wikipedia: Child Abuse
- WBTV
- Google Search: Child Sex Crimes Statistics
- KSDK
- Google Scholar: Child Exploitation
- QC News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Sexual Trafficking
- WSOC TV
- Google News: School Staff Misconduct
