Hightower arrested for sexual assault and child abuse

Brian E. Hightower, 48, of Grant will face charges of alleged sexual assault of a child and child abuse. He was arrested by the Perkins County Sheriff’s Office without incident on Friday, July 28 at 6:35 p.m.

Sheriff Jim Brueggeman said Hightower has been charged with sexual assault of a child, a Class 1B felony; and committing child abuse intentionally with no injury, a Class IIIA felony. 

A complaint filed July 28 alleged Hightower committed the offenses on July 7 to a 14-year-old victim. Judge Edward Steenburg issued a warrant for Hightower’s arrest on July 28.

Brueggeman said the investigation has been ongoing since July 7 and remains ongoing. 

Hightower is currently being housed in the Keith County Jail, where bond has been set at 10 percent of $500,000. 

He’s scheduled to be arraigned in Perkins County Court on Aug. 16 at 1 p.m.

Hightower, who was a special education para-educator at Perkins County Elementary School, resigned on July 26, according to PCS Superintendent Phillip Picquet.