Edgewood Teacher Charged with Sexual Misconduct with Former Student
Posted
Craig Brosman-
An Edgewood Middle School teacher was jailed on sexual charges Tuesday evening after police investigated a complaint involving a 14-year-old former student of his.
Tyler J. Baatz, 26, of 415 N. Parker St., Warsaw, was arrested for sexual misconduct with a minor, a Class B felony, and child seduction, a Class D felony, after admitting to inappropriate sexual activity in the past three weeks with a female 14-year-old former student.
The acts occurred over a period of three weeks in August at his apartment in Warsaw.
Warsaw school resource officers and detectives received information of a possible inappropriate relationship.
Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz was informed of the matter during Tuesday night’s school board work session.
Hintz told the Times-Union this morning that the school corporation is “disheartened with what has occurred.”
“Warsaw Community Schools is cooperating fully with Warsaw Police Department,” said Hintz.
According to Hintz, Baatz was in his third year of teaching at the school.
Baatz is listed as an eighth-grade language arts teacher.
Per state law, Hintz said that Baatz is suspended with pay until the matter is resolved in court.
“We want to ensure the community and parents that the staff has been appraised of the situation,” said Hintz. “We’re taking every step necessary to ensure the safety of our students.”
Hintz said that guidance counselors will be available to talk to students or staff about the issue.
Text and telephone records indicated contact between the adult teacher and the child since spring 2012, during a period at the end of the school year continuing into the summer.
Initial contact occurred because of the teacher-student relationship, but the sexual charges relate to activity at his Warsaw apartment and at a Winona Lake location. The child was a student of Baatz’ in the past year.
Baatz did come to the Warsaw Police Department to discuss the matter, and acknowledged his inappropriate behavior and illegal activity with the girl. He was immediately booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on no bond and is awaiting court action.
The Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s office assisted in the investigation.
This investigation will continue to determine if other incidents occurred between the adult and child. There is no indication at this time that any other students were involved with Baatz, according to police.
