The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Trial set for Broadway Center Director

The trial for the director of the Broadway Neighborhood Center has been set.

Susan Freeman-Murdah, 44, 217 Woodridge Ave., was charged Feb. 1 after she allegedly failed to report a sexual assault.

The pretrial conference is set for March 12, and the trial is set to begin at 9 a.m. March 27, according to online court documents.

According to a complaint from Iowa City police, a teacher in the Headstart Program — which Freeman oversees — told Freeman a parent approached officials with concerns her daughter had been sexually assaulted in December 2011.

Freeman was charged with failing to fulfill her duties as a mandatory reporter because law requires her to report any sexual assault within 24 hours.

The report said the parent suspected a teacher at the Headstart Program committed the alleged sexual assault.

The mother allegedly told the teacher she believed another teacher in the program had indecently touched her daughter, who is under the age of 12.

The report said the mother saw injuries on her daughter, and her daughter consistently told her which teacher committed the alleged assault.

— by Beth Bratsos

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