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Former Bermuda teacher faces more charges in Alabama

Former CedarBridge Academy teacher Harvey Knotts now faces more charges of sexual abuse against students.Mr Knotts, 40, was last week charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse while working as a fourth grade teacher at McDonell Elementary School in Huntsville, Alabama.He is also still wanted for questioning in relation to a separate alleged sex attack on a female student in Bermuda in 2007.Mr Knotts has been held at the Madison County jail since Wednesday last week. He was initially charged with seven counts of sexual abuse involving five children under 12 years old. But police have since added three more charges after three more victims came forward. He is now charged with ten counts of sexual abuse against eight child victims.Mr Knotts appeared before Madison County Court in Huntsville on Monday and his bond was increased from $230,000 to $1 million. This equates to $10,000 per count. In early 2004 Mr Knotts was accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl in Bermuda. He was found guilty but was acquitted when he took it to the Court of Appeal later that year.However, Bermuda police have confirmed Mr Knotts is still wanted in connection with sexually assaulting a young student in 2007. This is believed to have been a 12-year-old girl who Mr Knotts taught computer science to at CedarBridge Academy. He fled the Island by boarding a flight to New York before police had a chance to question him. Mr Knotts, an American citizen, lived on the Island with his Bermudian wife and their four young children. He took two of his children to the US with him. He worked at a barber shop before teaching at CedarBridge Academy.A spokesman for Bermuda Police Service said the “outstanding incident” relates to an allegation made by a young female attending one of the Island’s public senior high schools. He said: “The complainant stated to police that a male known to her acted in an inappropriate manner towards her, it is also alleged that he made advances towards her of a sexual nature. “An investigation was launched however before the matter could advance. The suspect left Bermuda and the investigation remains open.”Mr Knotts had taught at McDonell Elementary School since 2008. Ann Roy Moore, Huntsville City School superintendent, said he was immediately put on “administrative leave with pay”. Dr Moore added that the safety and welfare of students was their priority.CedarBridge Academy and the Ministry of Education did not respond to requests for comment.