A McLaurin Elementary janitor was arrested Tuesday for allegedly molesting a 10-year-old girl on school grounds.Natchez police arrested James Heckard, 51, 5 East Woodlawn St., Tuesday on a charge of child molestation — touching for lustful purpose. Police said they believe Heckard molested the victim Monday in a storage building outside the school.

The victim told her parents that day, and the parents came to the school Tuesday morning to report the incident, said Natchez Police Chief Willie Huff. The case is still under investigation, Huff said.

The Natchez-Adams School District placed Heckard on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation, said Superintendent Dr. Carl Davis. Heckard has worked for the school district for five years as a janitor.

More than 900 students attend second to sixth-grade at McLaurin Elementary, which employs about 55 teachers, 25 teacher-assistants, three administrators and about 25 other employees.

Davis said he thinks it is important for the district to wait until the investigation is complete before making conclusions.

&uot;I think what we have to do is not lose our heads,&uot; he said. &uot;We have to make good, rational decisions based on the facts at hand.&uot;

Prior to this summer, most school districts — including Natchez-Adams — only required background checks for bus drivers, Davis said.

On July 1 a new state law went into effect requiring all new employees to be fingerprinted for use in tracking criminal history.

Police were holding Heckard without bond Tuesday, pending arraignment today.

Local law enforcement officers also arrested two other adults this week for allegedly committing sexual offenses with juveniles.

Natchez police arrested Cornelius Lewis, 69, 919 North Union St., Monday, on a charge of sexual battery for allegedly having sex with a 13-year-old relative. Lewis claims the act was consensual, Huff said. But &uot;regardless of that, she’s 13. It can’t be consensual,&uot; Huff said.

The alleged incident is believed to have taken place Sunday at Lewis’ residence.

Police were holding Lewis on a $20,000 bond Tuesday.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Department arrested Bobby Ray Hall Jr., 37, 2 Fieldview Road, Tuesday on charges of sexual battery and child fondling of a 13-year-old relative, who is now 14 years old.

Adams County Sheriff Tommy Ferrell said the alleged incident took place in October 1999 and involved sexual contact or inappropriate touching. Deputies became involved in the case Tuesday after it was reported by the Adams County Department of Human Services. Hall was being held on a $100,000 bond Tuesday.