A middle school principal and vice principal are on paid leave after a 14-year-old student was accused of raping another student during school hours.

Portola Middle School Principal Denise Van Hook and Vice Principal Matthew Burnham have been on leave for at least a week while the district investigates the situation, reports the Contra Costa Times.

According to police, the unidentified suspect is accused of raping a 12-year-old classmate in a school stairwell while classes were in session. The teen has been charged with felony sexual assault.

Detectives say the two students knew each other but were not romantically involved. Two other students witnessed the attack. According to the news report, one student got an adult while the other tried to physically intervene.

Several school officials, including site supervisors, are defending the suspect saying they believe the alleged sexual assault was consensual.

The community’s concerns about school safety have been escalating. In October, a 16-year-old girl was gang raped outside her homecoming dance at neighboring Richmond High School. Student witnesses didn’t report the assault until nearly two hours after the initial attack.

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