A former Preble County deputy sheriff, Mason Williams, was convicted on charges of sexual battery and tampering with evidence after engaging with a National Trail High School student in a sexual relationship, as stated by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, the Ohio Attorney General's Office reported. The 26-year-old Williams, while acting as a school resource officer, was found guilty of three third-degree felonies which encompass two counts of sexual battery and one count of evidence tampering, with the case being the fourth prosecuted by the AG's office for similar misconduct involving students.
Ohio law firmly prohibits school employees from engaging in sexual activity with students at their institution, Yost emphasized, stating via Ohio Attorney General's Dave Yost website, "Parents shouldn’t have to worry about predators when they send their kids to school,” and further remarked, "There is no age or no so-called consent that makes a school employee having sex with a student appropriate." Yost's comments mirror the state's stance that the power dynamics of a school setting nullify any claim to consensual relations, as explained in the conviction announcement, Williams now faces sentencing on Dec. 16, he's looking at prison time, and he will be required to register as a sex offender.
In addition to Williams, other cases have put a spotlight on the issue with Caroline Johnson pleading guilty to sexual battery, Shawn Long serving time for disseminating harmful material, and Steve Kent's unsuccessful appeal of his sentence for evidence tampering related to illegal conduct with students, Ohio's legal community reports of these cases seem to indicate a pattern that Yost's office is striving to rectify with diligence. Prosecuting these individuals aligns with the broader mandate to protect students from predatory behavior by those in authority positions within educational settings.
