Peekel Arrested After Alleged Sexual Assault

The Exeter Police Department (EPD) arrested former admissions officer Arthur Peekel on two counts of sexual assault against Lawrence Jenkens ’77 after Peekel turned himself in this past Friday; the EPD released Peekel on a $25,000 bail and set his arraignment for July 5.

Jenkens alleged that Peekel had sexually assaulted him in 1973, when Jenkens was visiting the Academy and sleeping in a room with Peekel prior to enrolling as a student. Following Jenkens taking his allegations to the school’s administration, Peekel went on a leave of absence in December 1973 and later resigned from the Academy and moved out of state. As Peekel had moved out of state, the statute of limitations had not run out in Jenkens’ case.

Following the publicization in March of Richard Schubart’s sexual misconduct case, Jenkens shared his story on Facebook. The current Academy administration learned of Jenkens’ allegations following that post on March 31, 2016 and immediately passed on information to the EPD. In collaboration with police in Greensboro, N.C., where Jenkens currently resides, the EPD launched an investigation. The Boston Globe reported on the Peekel case in an investigative piece published by the Spotlight team on May 6 titled,  “Private Schools, Painful Secrets.”

“We are in open and active discussion with our community about how to come to terms with this disturbing part of our past and address the needs of those who have been harmed.”

Immediately after Peekel’s arrest, news publications such as The New York Times and The Boston Globe ran stories concerning the arrest.

Jenkens spoke with The Exonian over the phone following Peekel’s arrest.

He said that the arrest of Peekel serves as a sign that Peekel is being held responsible for his actions. “I think the fact that he was charged is an indication to me that the police have done their investigation and have found enough evidence to respond. I think it’s part of a process of accountability,” he said.

Jenkens emphasized the importance of the Academy’s support for any further or future victims of sexual misconduct at the hands of staff members. “I hope that people feel safe enough now to come forward without having their case ignored,” he said. “The Academy and the authorities need to make that possible.”

He called for a shift in the culture at the Academy moving onwards from his case, to allow greater assistance for victims of sexual abuse. “I hope moving forward that at PEA, there’s a culture and an atmosphere that allows victims to be heard and allegations to be investigated. I hope that the victim can receive assistance and support. It’s a long process to heal after that kind of abuse,” Peekel said.

Peekel further emphasized the importance of the culture surrounding sexual abuse at PEA in preventing future cases of assault. “I hope that there is a change in the culture that PEA can create a culture where people who prey on children in particular don’t feel safe to do it there. I think if you deal with sexual assault openly and transparently and support the victims and deal with the perpetrator that you’ll attract fewer people who are interested in that activity with students,” he continued.

Nevertheless, Jenkens expressed confidence in the current administration’s handling of his case. “The current administration did what it was supposed to do. I’m pleased about that,” he said.

In the Academy’s public statement regarding Peekel’s case, Exeter’s Director of Communications Robin Giampa said that PEA has been assisting the EPD’s investigation. Giampa emphasized that Exeter will do its best to illuminate the ambiguities surrounding the case and prepare an appropriate response for the Academy community.

“We are aware that Mr. Peekel has been charged by the Exeter Police Department. We have supported the investigation by the Exeter Police Department and we want to avoid any public comments about the case that could get in the way of the legal process,” Giampa said.

“More broadly, we are committed to gathering and confronting the facts about the offenses that occurred here, as well as the school’s response to them at the time.”

“We are in open and active discussion with our community about how to come to terms with this disturbing part of our past and address the needs of those who have been harmed,” Giampa said in the Times’ piece.

“And we continue to refine our existing policies and practices, and the ways we work with our students, in order to make Exeter the safest possible environment for our students today.”