Ashley Luthern

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A Milwaukee Public Schools principal is accused of working with her then-boyfriend to intimidate a woman who said the man had sexually assaulted her.

Valencia Carthen, 42, and Jason Cunningham, 39, were charged this week with felony intimidation of a victim. Carthen was removed from her post as principal of Washington High School of Information Technology "on an emergency basis while the criminal proceedings continue," according to a statement from MPS.

The statement noted the allegations against Carthen, who was hired by the district in August 1999, do not involve the school or students.

Carthen was in custody Thursday while Cunningham remained at large. An arrest warrant has been issued for him.

According to a criminal complaint:

Cunningham was charged in September with two counts of second-degree sexual assault, strangulation and battery. In December, the adult female victim in the case said Carthen had been visiting her on a weekly basis to discuss the case, serving as a "go-between" for Cunningham.

The woman said she learned Carthen was in a relationship with Cunningham, who knew where the victim lived. Carthen urged the woman to recant and she provided Cunningham's attorney with a letter recanting that was allegedly written by the victim.

The woman told police Carthen said she worked as a principal and "knew people and students around MPS," which caused the woman to fear for the safety of her children.

Text messages corroborated the intimidation and showed Carthen was working on Cunningham's behalf to get the woman to leave Milwaukee and not cooperate with the prosecution.

Carthen remained in Milwaukee County Jail Thursday on $15,000 bail. She is due back in court Feb. 21.