Ex-Teacher Pleads Guilty To Sexual-Battery Charges

MADISON COUNTY, Ohio—A former Madison County teacher who was accused of having sex with a student was sentenced Thursday.

NBC 4’s Lauren Diedrich reported with the FAST FACTS.

Gerald Johnson, 41, pleaded guilty to charges sexual battery, a third-degree felony, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008.

Johnson was a history teacher at TolIes Technical Center in Madison County, and the female victim was a 17-year-old student. He taught her history class during the 2006-07 school year.

Johnson and the student allegedly engaged in sexual conduct at the school in 2007, at Tuttle Mall in December 2007 and at Motel 6 in Hilliard in February 2008, according to Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien.

The sexual battery charge stemmed from the alleged offense that took place at the Motel 6, O’Brien said.

During that period of time, Johnson still was a teacher at Tolles and she was a student. Although at the time of the alleged sexual conduct, she was not a student in Johnson’s classes, O’Brien said.

School officials said Johnson resigned in May 2008 after being placed on paid leave in early March 2008. He had been a teacher in the district since 2004.

At his arraignment, Johnson waived his right to have a grand jury review the case against him.

Johnson was sentenced to three years in prison. His maximum sentence would have been five years behind bars, a $10,000 fine and having to register as a sexual offender.