Fourth of July fireworks
2008 Cityfolk Festival
Spotted at the Cityfolk Festival
Mad River Schools mulling whether to allow sex offender graduate with his class
Monday, May 05, 2008
RIVERSIDE — The Mad River Local School District is looking into the ramifications of having a senior convicted of sexually assaulting another student participate in commencement with his class.
"Right now any possible scenarios are being researched by the school district's attorney," Mad River Communications Director Jenny Birtle said. "We've known about this situation and we're looking into it to find out what we need to do."
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Final exams remain and it's undetermined who will graduate in June, Birtle said.
Christopher Lemaster, 18, a senior at Stebbins High School, pleaded guilty April 3 to a fourth-degree felony charge of gross sexual imposition and was placed on five years probation May 1. Lemaster's attorney indicated at his sentencing that he would like to graduate with his class.
The charge stemmed from a Nov. 2 incident when Lemaster engaged in sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old sophomore who had passed out at a party after consuming alcohol and Xanax.
The girl woke up with her pants undone and abdominal pain, according to police reports. She later learned male students were circulating photos of her undressed on their cell phones. She went to a school guidance counselor Nov. 5, saying she thought she'd been raped.
DNA from a condom thrown out the window linked Lemaster to the girl, according to Riverside Det. Tom Donahue. Lemaster was arrested Feb. 22, released on $25,000 bond Feb. 28 and put in home instruction Mar. 3.
Home instruction differs from home schooling in that the student is still enrolled in the district, is guided by district teachers and follows the same curriculum as any other student.
"We're required to educate every child in the district," Birtle said. "But the number one priority is the safety of our students. These two students are not in school together and we're doing everything we can to make sure no one feels uncomfortable."
Birtle said she could not give any information on the girl's status with the district because she's under 18. Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Dennis Langer indicated at Lemaster's sentencing that she was being home-schooled due to harassment by other students.
