The Forrest Police Department issued the following statement.
The Forest Police Department has formally escalated its investigation into senior leadership of the Forest Municipal School District to federal authorities, submitting evidence and a supplemental memorandum to the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Mississippi, Child Exploitation/Public Corruption Unit.
The referral follows the discovery of two separate sexual abuse cases involving students and an alleged pattern of delayed mandatory reporting, internal handling of criminal allegations, obstruction of law enforcement investigations, and mishandling of evidence by school district officials.
The escalation was initiated by Timothy Geter, Chief Investigator with the Forest Police Department Criminal Investigation Division, after local prosecution efforts stalled. The District Attorney declined further action, and an appointed special prosecutor failed to pursue obstruction and hindering charges despite documented statutory violations.
ALLEGED CONDUCT AND TIMELINE OF EVENTS
Case One: Austin Taylor — Assistant Coach / Teacher
Investigators allege that on or about September 16, 2025, senior administrators within the Forest Municipal School District were notified of allegations that Austin Taylor, an assistant coach and teacher, had engaged in sexual battery, grooming, and related offenses involving a 16-year-old female student.
Despite this notification, law enforcement and Child Protective Services were not immediately contacted, as required by Mississippi law. Instead, investigators allege that the district conducted an internal investigation, during which administrators reportedly concluded that “nothing illegal had occurred.”
During this period—spanning approximately 18 days—Taylor allegedly remained on campus and in proximity to students. The victim later reported continued harassment during the time Taylor was allowed to remain at school.
Notification to the Mississippi Department of Education was delayed and later disputed. Investigators report that required documentation was not timely produced and that Child Protective Services was never notified.
On September 30, 2025, Taylor was arrested on felony charges including sexual battery, grooming, enticement of a child, computer luring, and molestation. Prior to his arrest, Taylor was stopped by law enforcement and found in possession of three resignation letters, stating he was en route to submit them to the school—raising concerns that the delay may have allowed an opportunity for quiet separation rather than immediate intervention.
Case Two: Nicole Lara — Color Guard Instructor
A second investigation involves Nicole Lara, who was working with the school band program during the summer of 2025. Investigators allege that Lara groomed a 17-year-old male student during band camp and later engaged in explicit Snapchat communications with the student.
District officials were allegedly notified of these allegations between September 23 and September 24, 2025. Despite the disclosure of sexual conduct, investigators allege that law enforcement was not immediately notified, nor were Child Protective Services, the Mississippi Department of Education, or the District Attorney.
Instead, investigators allege that Lara was instructed to delete Snapchat messages and social media communications involving students. During the investigation, police further allege that a student’s phone containing relevant communications was wiped of evidence before being turned over to law enforcement.
The district publicly characterized Lara as a “volunteer.” However, investigators later obtained records indicating Lara was issued a W-9, designated as the color guard instructor, and paid through district-connected band funds.
Critical evidence—including explicit images, witness statements, and full suspect identification—was not provided to investigators until November 5, 2025, despite repeated requests across more than 15 email exchanges. Investigators allege that administrators had possession of this evidence since September 23, and that it took only several hours on November 5 to produce materials that had been withheld for weeks.
Lara was arrested on November 6, 2025, for grooming and inappropriate communications with a minor.
OBSTRUCTION AND INTERFERENCE ALLEGATIONS
During the course of these investigations, Forest Police allege additional acts of obstruction, including:
- A witness interview being interrupted by a school administrator’s spouse, who allegedly relayed a message from Superintendent Dr. Melanie Nelson instructing the witness not to speak.
- Repeated delays in producing evidence already in the possession of district officials.
- Incomplete or missing witness statements.
- Internal handling of allegations in place of immediate external reporting.
Investigators assert that these actions may constitute hindering prosecution, witness tampering, and evidence suppression under Mississippi law, and potentially implicate federal civil rights and Title IX violations.
FEDERAL CONTEXT AND ESCALATION
The current Superintendent of Forest Municipal School District, Dr. Melanie R. Nelson (appointed August 2023), is married to Earl Joe Nelson, a former Mississippi superintendent.
On January 20, 2026, Earl Joe Nelson pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit embezzlement, involving inflated consulting contracts and diversion of public education funds across multiple school districts—conduct concealed until federal intervention.
Investigators note the relevance of this context, citing parallel patterns of institutional self-preservation, delayed disclosure, and concealment of misconduct until external oversight was imposed.
REQUESTED FEDERAL ACTION
The Forest Police Department has requested that federal authorities:
- Coordinate with the FBI to review evidence for Title IX deliberate indifference, deprivation of rights under color of law, obstruction, and public corruption.
- Consider whether these cases reflect broader systemic failures in mandatory reporting within Mississippi rural school districts.
- Provide independent prosecutorial oversight where local conflicts exist.
- Ensure appropriate victim and witness advocacy resources are made available.
As stated in a prior Department of Justice prosecution involving Mississippi public schools, Scott F. Leary observed:
“The protection and education of children goes to the very heart of who we are as a people. Those that violate this sacred trust will face the consequences of their actions.”
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