Former student teacher indicted for sexual conduct with a minor
BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio (WKRC) - A grand jury has indicted a 24-year-old student teacher, accused of having a sexual relationship with a local student she taught. Investigators say the victim was in middle school.
The woman under indictment was a student teacher at Liberty Junior School in Liberty Township, but the district says the alleged violation took place after the school year ended in May, and after her contract ended.
The woman, Ana D'Ettorre, worked at Liberty Junior School during the 2022 spring semester. The district says it found out about the case in September when it heard from the Monroe Police Department, as the sexual act allegedly occurred in Monroe.
The indictments that came down Tuesday include one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor 13-15 years old, and 11 counts of sharing matter harmful to juveniles. While Butler County prosecutor Mike Gmoser wouldn't speak specifically to this case, he says his office takes these types of cases very seriously.
“The long-term effects of having that sexualization are dramatic and destructive, and we know it. The science is there, and that's why it is prohibited, and that's why we punish by appropriate sentences those people who are engaged in that type of activity,” said Gmoser.
D'Ettorre was an undergrad at Asbury, a private Christian college in Wilmore, Kentucky, just outside of Lexington. She was enrolled in a graduate program at another Christian college, Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Liberty University students are taught how to avoid illegal situations with children while student teaching. In the LU Teacher's Assistant Handbook, it states, "Do not use any personal digital modes of communication to interact with PreK-12 students; Interact with PreK-12 students in visible places where you are not alone with a single student; and respect the professional discretion and boundary between teacher and student relationships."
An arrest warrant has been issued for D’Ettori. Her address is listed in Louisville, and she is not yet in custody.
If convicted, D'Ettorre faces 21 months in prison.
Lakota Schools released a statement:
"We are incredibly disappointed that such serious charges have been brought upon a student teacher who spent time with our students.
After the start of the current school year, we were notified that an investigation involving Ms. D’Ettorre was taking place and fully cooperated with law enforcement. Ms. D’Ettorre was a student teacher in one of our schools, whose last day at Lakota was May 4, 2022. The alleged incident took place later that month. During her time at Lakota, we did not receive any complaints or concerns about her behavior.
It is imperative that our students feel safe in our schools, which is why we ask them, or their parents, to immediately report any concerns directly to an administrator."
Lakota referred questions about D'Ettorre to Liberty University where she was a student.
