A former Alamo school behavior specialist was arrested this week on charges that he molested a 15-year-old Alamo Navajo Community School student.

Mark W. Shaddock, 44, of Magdalena, faces 13 felony charges ranging from kidnapping to criminal sexual penetration of a minor. According to New Mexico State Police, the alleged incidents occurred over the course of several months, beginning in the spring.

A lengthy criminal complaint — filed Thursday in Magistrate Court — alleges that Shaddock, who recently resigned his position at the school, raped the teen and engaged in various sexual acts with her on multiple occasions. The complaint reveals that the victim — who will not be identified — confirmed her parents' growing suspicions during a July 24 safe house interview.

This week's arrest comes two months after a group of concerned parents from the reservation contacted El Defensor Chieftain and leveled similar accusations against Shaddock — who was not identified by name in subsequent stories. Shortly after an article detailing some of the group's concerns appeared in the Chieftain, the alleged victim's parents drafted a 2 1/2 page letter which denied those allegations.

The girl's father told El Defensor Chieftain, "It's a false allegation."

Alamo Navajo Schools Superintendent Alfonso Garcia and Alamo Navajo School Board Executive Director Michael Hawkes conducted an internal investigation into the allegations and, at that time, determined that the allegations could not be substantiated.

During a late May interview, Garcia said he thought the issue was a "misunderstanding."

"It's a failure to recognize a different culture and a different way of thinking," Garcia said, referring to the accusers.

Hawkes — a former New Mexico State Police officer — said at the time that, as far as he was concerned, the inquiry was over.

"We've done everything we're supposed to do," he said.

All told, Shaddock faces three counts of kidnapping (second degree felonies), three counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor (second degree felonies), two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (second degree felonies) four counts of child abuse (third degree felonies) and one count of aggravated stalking (fourth degree felony).

Shaddock will face a preliminary hearing at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12 in Magistrate Court.

If convicted of all charges, Shaddock could face up to 115 years in prison and more than $100,000 in fines.