Lakota teacher had sex with student multiple times in classroom: court docs

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LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX) – A teacher in Greater Cincinnati’s second-largest school district is accused of having sex with a 17-year-old student multiple times, including in his classroom, newly filed court records show.

Lakota East High School teacher Justin Daniel Dennis, 42, of West Chester Township, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a sexual battery charge.

His attorney, Chelsea Panzeca, said in court that they would fight the charge.

Dennis has joint custody of his two young children and is not a flight risk, she said.

Butler County Area 2 Court Magistrate Joseph Braun set Dennis’s bond at $100,000.

If he bonds out of the county jail, he will be under a court order to wear an electronic monitoring unit on his ankle.

Dennis is scheduled to return to Butler County Area 2 Court for a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The sexual battery charge in this case is a third-degree felony.

If convicted, Dennis faces one to five years in prison and being fined up to $10,000.

He would also be required to register on the Ohio sex offender list.

The case remains under investigation, and more charges could be filed, according to Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser.

Investigators, he said, have secured all evidence possibly related to the case at this point.

However, the prosecutor urged anyone with information about potential additional victims to contact detectives at the Butler County Sheriff’s Office at 513-759-7347.

Dennis was arrested Monday, the same day the young woman, who is now 21 or 22 years old, talked with detectives and turned over what is now considered evidence in the case.

“The victim responded to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and gave a recorded statement, alleging that during the time frame of December 2021 through September 2022, she was having a sexual relationship with a Lakota East High School teacher, Mr. Justin Daniel Dennis,” a sheriff’s detective wrote in his criminal complaint.

The document was filed in Buter County Area 2 Court and is now a public record.

“The victim explained the sexual relationship began in December of her senior year while she was 17 years old,” the complaint continues.

“She advised they had both consensual sexual intercourse … multiple times in Mr. Dennis’ classroom, as well as his residence, in the parking lot of her work…his old residence (in Liberty Township) as well as multiple other locations.

“The victim also showed a text thread between her and Mr. Dennis where they are talking about the past sexual relationship.”

Lakota district officials placed Dennis on paid administrative leave as soon as they learned of his arrest late Monday afternoon, according to an email the superintendent sent to parents.

The district is searching for a long-term substitute teacher to take over his classes.

Dennis taught government, economics and psychology, according to the Ohio Department of Education.

He also served as an advisor to a student assistance group that the victim was part of, sheriff’s officials said when they announced his arrest.

This comes just over a week before the start of the new academic year on Aug. 14.

“The safety of our students is always our first priority. Late this afternoon, we learned that a Lakota East employee was arrested. This employee was immediately placed on paid administrative leave after district leaders learned that a complaint was made against the individual. We are cooperating fully with the Butler County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO).

“As this is a personnel matter and the complaints have been under investigation by both law enforcement and now the District, we are not able to provide further information at this time. This individual and their alleged actions do not align in any way with the values or character of Lakota Local Schools. Again, the safety of our students is always our first priority and we will investigate any accusation or threat.”

Credit: fox19