United States: A chemistry teacher pleaded guilty to committing sexual acts with one of her underage students

A 57-year-old high school chemistry teacher in Ohio, United States, declared himself guilty of having sex at home with a minor student.

Heidi Hallstein of Franklin Township pleaded guilty in writing for gross sexual imposition and attempted illegal contact with a minor.

Subsequently, Laurie Pittman, judge on the Portage County Magistrate Court, convicted Hallstein on both charges.

His statement comes months after his arrest in August, when investigators accused her of sexual intercourse with a minor student at Hudson High School, where she taught chemistry, in January 2017.

The abuse took place at Hallstein’s home, where he lived on West College Avenue, and not on the school grounds, authorities said.

Shortly after her arrest, Hudson City School District Superintendent Phil Herman announced that Hallstein had quit his job and said the district would “ begin issuing Ms. Hallstein’s education license at the Department of Ohio Education. ”

Hallstein, formerly Gauntner, had been an employee of the Hudson City School District since 1995.

“The allegations stem from an alleged sexual encounter that took place outside the school grounds in January 2017 with a former Hudson High School student who was a minor at the time,” Herman said in his statement. “To protect the privacy of the student victim and the integrity of the investigation, we cannot share further details at this time.”

The superintendent further stated that the district had been “diligently” working with city police on the case since learning of the charges.

“Hudson police have investigated these serious allegations and then referred their investigation to the Portage County Sheriff’s Department, where the alleged crime had taken place.”

Herman told families in the neighborhood that schools should be an environment where young people feel safe.

“Schools must be a safe place for students, and teachers must meet the highest standards”, Herman said.These allegations are criminal and a violation of the trust our children, parents and community place in adults as educators ”.

The student is no longer in school, but was a student at the time of the abuse. The police never shared his age and identity.

According to the website martialpeace.com, Hallstein is a certified martial arts instructor with over 30 years of experience teaching karate at a local martial arts studio in Kent, Ohio.

Portage County Court has yet to convict Hallstein.

She’s been out of prison on a $ 30,000 USD 10 percent bond since September.

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