Delaware Middle School Principal Admits to Raping Child Under 16 for Years in 'Heinous' Case

A middle school principal in Delaware is facing a lengthy prison sentence after admitting she raped a student.

Tasha Purnell, 44, entered a guilty plea to two counts of third-degree rape and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child in a deal with prosecutors, who agreed to drop 16 additional felony sexual crime charges that had been filed in the case.

In addition, prosecutors will recommend a maximum sentence of eight years in prison, despite the charges carrying a sentence of six to 75 years in custody.

The offenses happened between 2010 and 2014 with a child under the age of 16, according to a press release from the Delaware Department of Justice.

Purnell, who uses the name Tasha Oliver in her professional life, worked as a teacher at Stanton Middle School at the time, according to the DDOJ.

She then served as principal of A.I. Middle School from 2020 until her termination in September 2024.

Both of those schools are in the Red Clay Consolidated School District, which is located on the outskirts of Wilmington.

Public records show that Purnell continued to receive her salary even after she was placed on leave in September 2023, which is when the Delaware State Police Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Unit began looking into the case.

Parents and teachers were not informed of that probe or her indictment on 19 charges in August 2024, and only discovered this information two months ago when local outlet WHYY broke the story.

The judge revoked Purnell’s bond after she entered her guilty plea on Monday and ordered her to be held at the Delores J. Baylor Correctional Center as she awaits sentencing.

“The sexual abuse of a child, in any case, is heinous,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “When that abuse comes from an adult, much less a person in a position of trust such as a principal or teacher whose entire purpose is to guide and protect children, it is absolutely unthinkable.”

Jennings went on to say: “The defendant will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. I am truly grateful to our prosecutors and the Delaware State Police for their excellent work on this case.”

Purnell will be sentenced in August.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.