(ANGOLA) - A Steuben County mother says she is continuing to push for answers after what she describes as inappropriate messages sent to her teenage daughter by a former teacher.
Cassandra Reser says the situation began a few months ago, when her 17-year-old daughter started receiving repeated calls from an unknown number. When her daughter eventually responded, Reser says the messages became personal and inappropriate.
According to screenshots provided by the family and a police report reviewed by WLKI News, the sender identified himself as O'Shea Owens, a former teacher connected to ACE Academy in Pleasant Lake.
ACE Academy is an alternative education program within MSD of Steuben County.
Reser says her daughter was a 15-year-old sophomore when Owens was her teacher. Reser and her daughter maintain there had been no contact between the two from the time Owens was her teacher until the messages began.
Reser says she first brought the messages to the Angola Police Department. She says when she followed up a few days later, she was told there was no report on file.
Reser says she then went to the Steuben County Courthouse to try to file for a protective order, but was unable to complete the process at first because she did not have all of the information required.
She later brought the information to the Steuben County Prosecutor's Office.
In an interview with WLKI News, Reser said she was determined to have someone review the messages.
"I need somebody to hear me," Reser said. "I'm gonna be here 'til somebody does."
Court records show a temporary protective order was granted April 17 after Owens did not appear for a scheduled hearing.
Reser says she was later told the case would not move forward criminally, citing her daughter's age at the time of the messages.
No criminal charges have been filed in the case.
For Reser, the issue remains far from closed. She says the role Owens once held as a teacher is central to why she believes the matter deserves greater scrutiny.
"Something's gotta be done," Reser said. "This can not be where it ends. This is a school teacher."
Reser says her last contact with Angola Police was with a detective who told her nothing could be done from a legal perspective. She says she told the detective she would continue pushing for answers.
"I want you to know I'm not stopping here," Reser said.
Owens has not responded to WLKI News for comment.
WLKI News obtained details of this case Thursday night and will continue working to get answers.