A teacher at Archbishop Hoban High School, Chad Kendall, has been charged with assault, the school confirmed in a letter sent to families on May 29. According to WKYK Kendall, who is part of Hoban's fine arts and performing arts department, is accused of a March 24, 2024, incident during a play rehearsal where he allegedly grabbed a former student by the neck. Currently on administrative leave, the faculty member is barred from campus during the legal proceedings.
Law enforcement became aware of the altercation after the former Hoban student, now attending the University of Cincinnati, reported the event to the Akron police in February, almost 11 months after it occurred. Charged with first-degree misdemeanor assault, Kendall maintains his innocence, entering a plea of not guilty on May 30, as reported by the Beacon Journal. A pre-trial is scheduled for later this month, on June 27.
Meanwhile, Cheryl Nichelson, amidst the havoc of prosecutors and school administrators playing phone tag, alleges the school failed to hold the teacher accountable after her daughter reported the assault last year. Having waited due to initial hesitation, the former student opted to press charges against Kendall after the school recognized him on social media in January, a gesture that left Nichelson livid, as she recounted during an interview with News 5 Cleveland. She expressed concern over the school's lack of transparency when they declined to share their internal investigation notes with detectives, compelling legal action for their acquisition.
According to the police reports, the alleged assault was captured on audio, with the victim's mother claiming her daughter felt intimidated in a manner that felt sexual to her. Despite this evidence, it appears the school's immediate response was to shield the teacher by referring to his popularity among students.
