Former Linn-Mar school employee charged with sex crime

MARION - A former employee of the Linn-Mar School District has been charged with disseminating obscene material to a minor, police say, while another former employee is under investigation.

Marcus Cain, 26, was arrested Thursday.

The minor involved was a student, Marion Police Lt. Scott Elam said.

Cain worked as a Student Support Associate at the Four Oaks residential site in Marion starting in June, Linn-Mar School Board documents show. He also had worked at Linn-Mar High.

Four Oaks, a child welfare not-for-profit organization, works with the Linn-Mar district to provide the ATLAS program. The program aims to help teenage boys with education and mental health needs, Linn-Mar district spokesman Matthew May said.

School board documents show Cain was fired October 5.

May said the school district contacted police after investigating multiple accusations made against him.

Elam confirmed the district contacted police in October.

A separate investigation of another former employee of the Linn-Mar Community School District is ongoing, Elam said, though that investigation is 'not related at all.”

May said the district contacted police about the second former employee after a separate investigation, during which he said 'the district acted in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.”

'We cannot provide details regarding personnel matters,” May said. 'However, we can confirm that both individuals in question are no longer employed with the district.”

Cain was released on a promise to appear. His initial appearance is scheduled for Nov. 10 at the Linn County Courthouse.