Originally posted Nov 28, 2006. Updated to show sentencing.
Nov 27, 2006 - Gary Stroup, 42, fourth grade teacher at two Columbus schools, pleaded guilty to two charges of molesti
ng male students. He had been charged with 15 counts of gross sexual imposition . The guilty plea to two charges was accepted because some of the families didn't want their young children to have to testify.
According to the prosecutor, Stroup molested nine elementary children in all from 1999 to 2005. They are latchkey kids or those who stayed after school to help him in his classroom at Winterset Elementary School.
Columbus Dispatch on the Alford plea. Pleading guilty without accepting the charge of guilt.Sentencing is scheduled for Jan 19th.
Update: Feb 5 - Stroup was sentenced to four years in prison. He had been accused of 15 counts of sexually fondling students, but 13 of those charges were dropped as part of the deal. He entered an Alford plea, which does not involve admitting guilt but concedes that the state has enough evidence to convict. The November plea agreement included giving up his teaching certificate.
The accusations involved students at Winterset Elementary on the Northwest Side and the former Hudson Elementary in South Linden.
Stroup was a finalist for state teacher of the year honors in 2004.
The plea agreement was approved by the boys' families. The judge labeled Stroup a sexually oriented offender. After completing his prison sentence, Stroup will have to serve five years on parole and register his address with authorities for 10 years.
Prosecutors would object to probation or early release.
Nov 28 - Found at the Ohio Educator Conduct disciplinary records database:
Basis for Discipline: Conviction for 2 counts of gross sexual imposition
Discipline Action: Voluntary Surrender
Date of Action: December, 2006
