A former Austin Middle School teacher accused of inappropriate sexual contact with students has accepted a plea agreement just days before he was scheduled to stand trial in Potter County.
Clark Inskeep, who was originally charged with five counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact in 2021, entered into a plea agreement on June 17, avoiding a jury trial that had been scheduled to begin June 26.
According to court records, Inskeep was accused of touching the breasts of three students on five separate occasions while employed at Austin Middle School. Two police reports regarding the allegations were filed by a school liaison officer in September 2021.
Following the investigation, a warrant was issued for Inskeep’s arrest. He turned himself in to the Potter County Detention Center in October 2021 and was later released after posting a $50,000 bond. A Potter County grand jury subsequently indicted him in December 2021 on five counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact.
Under Texas law, indecency with a child by sexual contact is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
The case remained pending in the court system for more than four years, with several continuances delaying trial proceedings. A final jury trial date was ultimately set for June 26, 2026.
Earlier this month, Inskeep’s attorney filed several pretrial motions challenging aspects of the prosecution’s case, including issues related to witness criminal histories and the admissibility of the victims’ outcry statements.
Court records show that during the June 17 plea hearing, prosecutors informed the court they had extensively discussed the case and potential trial outcomes with the victims. The victims expressed a desire to avoid the stress and uncertainty of a jury trial and agreed to the negotiated resolution.
As part of the plea agreement, the original felony charges were reduced to five counts of indecent assault.
In Texas, indecent assault is generally classified as a Class A misdemeanor and carries a maximum punishment of one year in county jail. The offense involves non-consensual sexual contact or exposure committed with the intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire.
Under the terms of the agreement, Inskeep received two years of deferred adjudication. Deferred adjudication allows a defendant to avoid a formal conviction if all court-ordered conditions are successfully completed during the supervision period.
Court records indicate that Inskeep must undergo required assessments, provide a DNA sample, and have no contact with the victims. He is also required to pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund and $50 to Crime Stoppers.
Texas law does not generally require individuals convicted of indecent assault to register as sex offenders. However, a subsequent indecent assault conviction can result in more serious felony charges.
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