|
AKRON, OHIO-The age for consensual sex in Ohio is 16 but high school science teacher Stephen Pandur, 25, faces up to 15 years in prison for having consensual sex with an 18-year-old female student.
That's because state law says a teacher can't have sex with a student who is either "enrolled in or attends that school". If Pandur had had sexual relations with a student 16 or over at another school where he isn't on the teaching staff, he wouldn't have committed any crime and wouldn't be sitting in jail awaiting arraignment.
Pandur is scheduled to be arraigned Monday, Nov. 28 in Portage County Court after being indicted on three felony counts of sexual battery.
Pandur is a teacher at Crestwood School District in Mantua which is 20 miles northeast of Akron. On Nov. 14, district officials, apparently basing their complaint on rumors overheard by school bus drivers from students on their bus route, reported Pandur to the Mantua police department.
According to Mantua police chief Harry Buchert, Pandur and the girl had been flirtatious for about a year. The chief said police "knew about a kiss" exchanged between the couple but after she turned 18 on Oct. 26, the couple allegedly engaged in sexual relations. Nine days after school officials called police, Pandur was indicted.
Superintendent Joseph Iacano said told the public in a press release that "the safety and well-being of all Crestwood students has been and will continue to be our top priority". 11-27-05
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
|
