A group of Arizona sixth graders reportedly saw something strange happening with their teacher and went straight to the principal. Curt Hinton, 52, allegedly urinated into a can inside his classroom at Wilson Elementary School in Phoenix with students present. At first, the kids apparently thought they heard water running, but when they realized the sound was coming from their teacher, they went for help.
According to court documents obtained by Arizona Family, the students told police and the principal they heard liquid and allegedly saw their teacher urinating into a container while at his desk. In the process, the educator apparently exposed his genitalia to the class, prompting the children to speak up.
A 12-year-old boy and three 11-year-old girls reported the alleged incident to the principal, according to Fox 10. The students said they saw the teacher adjust his pants and belt, exposing his penis.
Following his arrest, Hinton reportedly told police he didn’t think the students could see what he was doing but admitted he did urinate into a can. Investigators noted the desk where Hinton sat was not enclosed and would leave anyone’s legs who sat there completely visible, per Arizona Family. The teacher reportedly admitted multiple times he made a grave error in judgment.
The disgraced teacher reportedly told police he reverted to his military days. While serving and unable to leave his post, he would urinate into a can. The teacher allegedly claimed he was at a new school and did not know how to contact anyone to cover his classroom while he used the bathroom.
Following Hinton’s arrest, prosecutors charged him with four felony counts of indecent exposure, Fox 10 reported. A judge gave him a $10,000 secured appearance bond. His next court date is March 26, 2025.
Per News 12, Hinton resigned from his position two days after the alleged incident.
The Wilson School District has no policy barring teachers from using the bathroom, according to Fox 10. Teachers typically ask another teacher to watch their classroom for a few minutes.
The district released the following statement: “We are actively working with the Phoenix Police Department regarding this matter. In accordance with policy, Wilson Elementary School District cannot provide details regarding personnel matters; however, we can confirm that the teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending further action, has been relieved of all duties and has been arrested. We are unable to provide any additional comments on this matter.
Wilson Elementary School District prioritizes the safety and supervision of students at all times. While there is no specific policy solely addressing teacher restroom use, it is standard practice for teachers to ensure appropriate coverage for their classrooms when they need to step away briefly. This typically involves coordinating with a neighboring teacher, instructional aide, or school administrator to ensure students remain supervised.
As previously stated, we are actively working with the Phoenix Police Department regarding this matter. In accordance with district policy, we cannot provide details on personnel matters, but we can confirm that the teacher has been placed on administrative leave, relieved of all duties, and arrested.”
