Elementary School Girl Got a Haircut So Her Teacher Wouldn’t Recognize and 'Touch Her.' Now, He Faces a Child Cruelty Charge

A Georgia teacher faces child cruelty and battery charges for allegedly touching at least two elementary school students inappropriately — including one who got a haircut in the hopes that the educator would not recognize her anymore.

Brandon Hill, a teacher at Trip Elementary School in Grayson, Ga., lost his job over the alleged incidents, which occurred throughout March, according to Atlanta’s ABC affiliate WSB-TV.

In an arrest affidavit obtained by WSB-TV, police state that Hill, 29, rubbed the hair, head, back and shoulders of a female student on six different occasions. The teacher allegedly told her “not to use her voice” and that it “was quiet time while he was touching her,” police said.

The student even had her hair cut, so Hill would “think she wasn’t in the class anymore, so as to not touch her,” the affidavit states.

Another student also accused the teacher of stroking her hair and rubbing her back and shoulders on multiple occasions, per a second affidavit, which also states that the student attempted to stand up for herself.

“The victim told him to stop on several different occasions,” police said. “However, the accused didn’t stop stroking the victim’s hair when told to stop by the victim.”

Hill was arrested and charged with a first-degree felony child cruelty charge, as well as one count of simple battery, a misdemeanor, WSB-TV reported. He was charged with child cruelty because, one affidavit states, he “maliciously” caused one of the underage victims “cruel or excessive physical pain or excessive mental pain.”

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In a statement to WSB-TV, a spokesperson for Gwinnett County Public Schools said, “The safety and well-being of our students and staff is — and will always be — the district’s top priority. As soon as we became aware of the allegations, we acted swiftly and followed all state and district-mandated protocols.”

The spokesperson also stated that following the allegations, Hill “was promptly removed from the classroom and did not return to the school.”

The Gwinnett County Police Department and Gwinnett County Schools Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment, nor did Gwinnett County Public Schools. It is not immediately clear if Hill has retained legal representation to comment on his behalf.

According to WSB-TV, Hill was released after posting a $6,000 bond and is currently awaiting his first court appearance.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.