A 44-year-old substitute teacher named Nicholas Bott from the Clark County School District, Nevada, died by suicide two days after being arrested for child abuse. Bott, who was employed at Ernest A. Becker Sr. Middle School in Las Vegas, was detained on May 16, 2024, on charges of child abuse and illicit contact with a minor.
Police documents detail Bott’s alleged inappropriate interactions with a 14-year-old student, which included writing inappropriate notes. His arrest report disclosed that Bott had developed an infatuation with the student and communicated his feelings via multiple notes. He complimented her on her beauty, handed over his contact details, and urged her to keep the matter confidential. School authorities dismissed Bott from the school premises and notified the police, who started an investigation.
On May 16, Bott was apprehended and subsequently detained at the Clark County Detention Center. He was released the next day after posting bail. Unfortunately, two days later, on May 18, Bott took his own life with a gunshot to the head, as confirmed by the Clark County Office of the Coroner.
The incident has triggered widespread concern in the community. A spokesperson for the Clark County School District described the situation as alarming for all involved. The district had also removed Bott from its roster of substitute teachers, thereby barring him from future employment within the district.
According to court documents, Bott was due to make his first court appearance on June 20. The investigation exposed Bott’s admission of his infatuation with the student and his acknowledgment of overstepping professional boundaries. Bott admitted to his feelings in an email to the school principal but maintained that he hadn’t done anything morally wrong.
The arrest has spurred conversations about implementing protective measures for students and the system for screening substitute teachers. The school district has underlined the need for immediate reporting and comprehensive investigations in such instances.
