FARGO, N.D. (trfnews.i234.me) – Former Davies High School Staff Member Acquitted of All Charges by Chris Harper reporting for trfnews.i234.me
Ashley Peterson, a former staff member at Fargo’s Davies High School who was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student and facing charges of promoting a sexual performance by a minor and contributing to the deprivation of a minor, has been found not guilty on all counts. The jury reached their decision after a four-day trial that saw testimonies from several witnesses, including Peterson’s best friend Heather Cantrell, the student involved Kevin Wakndwa, Davies High School principal, teacher, two friends of Wakndwa and school resource officer Derek Johnson.
Peterson was fired from her position as a positive behavior technician at Davies High School in October 2023 following allegations that she had sent nude photos to the student and engaged in an inappropriate relationship with him. The case garnered significant attention, leading to Peterson’s eventual charges.
During the trial, Cantrell testified that on the night of the alleged incident at Brewhalla, Peterson confessed to her about communicating with a student and showing his nude photo to others. However, the defense argued that Cantrell was intoxicated during this conversation and could not accurately recall events or assess whether the relationship between Peterson and Wakndwa was consensual.
Wakndwa himself took the stand, admitting to asking for a nude photo from Peterson but claiming he lied about his sister seeing their messages in an attempt to end the relationship. The defense argued that Wakndwa’s claims were unreliable due to his history of compulsive lying and harassing behavior towards Peterson.
Davies High School principal, a teacher, two friends of Wakndwa, and school resource officer Derek Johnson also testified during the trial. Officer Johnson noted that he had observed an increasingly flirtatious relationship between Wakndwa and Peterson at school but did not report his concerns until after the allegations came to light.
Detective Jamey Gahner from the Fargo Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit reviewed Snapchat data, revealing that despite Peterson initially denying any social media connection with Wakndwa, they had been communicating frequently throughout their alleged relationship. However, due to app settings, the allegedly explicit photos could not be recovered as they were not saved within 24 hours of being sent.
Despite investigators’ inability to prove specific instances of criminal behavior, Peterson was found not guilty by the jury. The defense successfully argued that there was insufficient evidence to establish where Peterson was when the alleged crimes took place, as she had been living with Fargo Schools Superintendent Dr. Rupak Gandhi’s family at the time and working for the district in a different capacity.