Teen tells police kindergarten teacher loved her

A 16-year-old girl told police she and a local kindergarten teacher loved each other.

Melvyn Sprowson, 44, a teacher at Wengert Elementary School, near Sahara Avenue and Nellis Boulevard, faces charges of first-degree kidnapping after the girl, who had been reported missing to Henderson police on Aug. 29, was found living in his home, according to police.

They had been dating, said “I love you,” and slept in the same bed, according to Sprowson’s arrest report from the Metropolitan Police Department. He was arrested Nov. 1.

They had been living together for two months when Clark County School District police officers knocked on his door and she answered.

She told officers she was unhappy living at home and searched for a roommate on Craigslist, where Sprowson had placed an ad, according to the report.

The two began exchanging text messages and developed a relationship. Sprowson picked the girl up from her parents’ house without their consent and took her to his home after she told him she was fed up living with her mom, the report said.

The girl said she stopped going to school because she was afraid she’d be taken back home. Sprowson and the girl also discussed her getting emancipated, the report said.

Sprowson initially told police he had never met the girl in person and that the two only communicated through messages. Sprowson also told police he had no knowledge of the girl’s whereabouts, but admitted to wiring her $150 in the past.

Sprowson was arrested for kidnapping, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, child abuse and obstructing an officer.

Clark County School District spokesperson Melinda Malone on Friday said Sprowson, who is in his first year teaching in the district, is still employed with the school district and is “assigned to home.”

Contact reporter Steven Slivka at sslivka@reviewjournal.com. Follow @StevenSlivka on Twitter.