A former Northwest High School band director wanted on sexual battery charges was taken into custody Friday at a home in Norton, after his removal from the Stark County school district this summer. Stephen Imler, 29, was arrested at an address in the 4600 block of Hametown Road, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Imler, described as the former band director and music teacher at Northwest High School in Canal Fulton, was wanted by the Stark County Sheriff's Office, according to Cleveland.com, which reported the charges as three counts of sexual battery and two counts of grooming. The charges were three counts of sexual battery and two counts of grooming. The arrest was carried out by the agency's Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force.
The arrest caps a monthslong saga that began well before Imler's name surfaced in this week's fugitive roundup. According to the Northwest Local School District, Imler was placed on administrative leave after Canal Fulton police informed the district of allegations against him on August 16. Cleveland.com reported that Imler was placed on administrative leave August 18, citing the U.S. Marshals release.
District Says He Never Returned to Classrooms
Imler resigned from Northwest High School on September 2, according to the seed reporting from Cleveland.com.
The district's account also revealed that this was not the first time Imler had faced scrutiny. A previous investigation in April 2026 involving the former band director was closed after police determined the allegations were unfounded, the district said. It wasn't until new information surfaced that a fresh investigation opened, at which point the district said it immediately placed Imler on leave.
Band Program Found Interim Leadership
With Imler gone, the district turned to a familiar face to keep its band program running. Rob Newman, described by the district as a retired, veteran and respected music teacher who most recently worked at Canton City Schools, stepped in to lead the band. Middle school music teacher Kim Good, who had previously worked with the band for several years, also volunteered to help fill the gap.
Under Ohio law, sexual battery is addressed in Section 2907.03 of the Ohio Revised Code. The statute generally classifies sexual conduct as a third-degree felony and sexual contact as a fifth-degree felony, with additional classifications in certain circumstances. No charging documents, bond details or court dates for Imler were available in the record reviewed for this report.
Second Arrest Tied to Fatal Cleveland Shooting
Imler's capture came the same day the task force arrested a second fugitive, 19-year-old Jayden Lockett, at a home in the 5600 block of Hege Avenue in Cleveland. Lockett was wanted by Cleveland police on an aggravated murder charge stemming from a September 29 shooting, and task force members seized a firearm during his arrest, per the Marshals release.
That shooting unfolded after Cleveland police responded to a report of gunfire near the 1000 block of East 68th Street, according to the release. Two men were shot while inside a vehicle on East 55th Street: a 22-year-old suffered two gunshot wounds to the head and died at a hospital, while a 21-year-old was shot in the leg and was treated and released, the Marshals said.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said the two offenders were taken off the streets that day. “Our task force works tirelessly to arrest the most dangerous fugitives, like these, who prey on our communities and citizens,” Elliott said.
