Shaker Heights Teacher Indicted For Sexual Battery With Student

SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH - A teacher at Shaker Heights High School has been charged with sexual battery of a student. The incident allegedly occurred in 1995, when Timothy Mitchell is accused of giving alcohol and marijuana to a 16-year-old student before having sex with her, reports say.

Mitchell, 58, was indicted on April 25, 2017 by a Cuyahoga County grand jury, Fox 8 reports. The station reports that on June 7, 1995 Mitchell allegedly took the 16-year-old to a baseball game where he bought her beer, smoked marijuana with her, and then had sex near the Cleveland Museum of Art. He reportedly had sex with her a second time on June 19 at his house. Mitchell was 36 at the time of the incidents, cleveland.com reports.

Shaker Heights Schools says Mitchell has been on paid administrative leave since February 16, when Shaker Heights Police told the administration they were investigating Mitchell. The school system said it will have counselors, psychologists, nurses, and staff available to students who may be troubled by the investigation.

"As soon as we learned about the complaint, we placed Mr. Mitchell on leave and instructed him to have no contact with our students or anyone else in the school community pending the outcome of the legal process. That is in keeping with our policies and procedures and the SHTA collective bargaining agreement," the district said in a statement. "The District is reviewing its legal obligations given this indictment and will take any steps necessary. We have fully cooperated with police throughout their investigation."

A grand jury previously declined to file charges in this same case in March, but new evidence obtained by police led to a new decision from the grand jury, cleveland.com says.

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