A former Eaton Middle School teacher is facing serious felony charges after authorities say she abused a student nearly a decade ago. A Preble County grand jury has indicted 45-year-old Kristin Schamel on 10 counts of sexual battery tied to alleged incidents in 2014. She was arrested in Florida, brought back to Ohio, and is currently being held in the Preble County Jail while she waits for her first court appearance.
According to Preble County Common Pleas Court records obtained by WHIO, the grand jury returned a secret indictment on July 6 that listed 10 separate counts of sexual battery. Local reports indicate the charges grew out of an investigation that began earlier this year.
Investigators tracked Schamel to the St. Petersburg area in Florida, where she was arrested, then Preble County deputies traveled south to bring her back to Eaton, according to WLWT. Eaton Community Schools has confirmed that Schamel is no longer employed with the district. Authorities have not yet released information on bond.
Investigation and alleged timeline
Detectives say the alleged abuse took place over roughly a 10 month span in 2014, and that the former student, now an adult, came forward earlier this year, WHIO reports. Sheriff Mike Simpson told reporters, “The victim came to us and made an allegation,” and said detectives opened a criminal investigation that was eventually presented to a grand jury. Prosecutors reviewed that presentation before the indictment was issued.
Legal context
Schamel is charged with sexual battery, a felony offense under Ohio law. The crime is defined in R.C. 2907.03. How severe the potential punishment could be depends on factors like the age of the alleged victim and the nature of the conduct. Sentencing guidelines for felonies are detailed in R.C. 2929.14.
What’s next
As of July 15, Schamel remained in the Preble County Jail and was scheduled to make her initial appearance in court on July 16, according to local reporting. The Preble County Prosecutor’s Office has not issued a public statement on the case, which remains under active investigation as it moves through the courts.
