Bacho was charged after a five-month investigation that prosecutors said was hampered by school administrators' delays in reporting the case.
ARRAIGNED May 12, 2008 - John Bacho, 32, a Strongsville High School teacher, was arraigned Monday on five counts of sexual battery accusing him of having sex with a 17-year-old student. He pleaded not guilty.
Bacho is a father of three. He resigned from the school after the allegations were made public.
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer (April 29) after his indictment.
An internal investigation at Strongsville High School last November convinced school officials that no criminal activity occurred between social studies teacher John Bacho, 32, and a 17-year-old junior in his class.The allegations first made by a friend of Bacho's accuser.
But a Cuyahoga County grand jury disagreed Monday, charging Bacho with five counts of sexual battery and a single count of possession of a criminal tool -- his 2002 Ford pickup truck -- in which police suspect one of the incidents took place.
"Bacho gives all the dedicated teachers a black eye," County Prosecutor Bill Mason said. "We entrust our teachers with the responsibility of educating our children, not to become predators in the classroom."
A special provision of Ohio law makes it a third-degree felony for a teacher or other adult in a position of authority to engage in sexual relations with a 17-year-old. Christine Scarlett, a former substitute teacher at Strongsville was convicted last June of sexual battery for engaging in sex with a 17-year-old male student.
OOI = Our own investigation is where school districts, oddly enough, never find enough evidence, but where police and prosecutors can, and do.
