Plea Hearing Set For Former Teacher

Written on October 22, 2012 by InkFreeNews Archive

Categories: Archive 2012, News Archive 2012

Tags: Judge Duane Huffer, Kosciusko County Superior Court I, Tyler Baatz

A former middle school teacher accused of inappropriate sexual relations with a student has been set to appear in court for a plea hearing.

Tyler J. Baatz, 26, of Warsaw, was represented in Kosciusko County Superior Court I today by Fort Wayne attorney J. Michael Loomis this morning. During a pre-trial conference, Judge Duane Huffer set a plea hearing for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7.

Baatz, 26, was jailed on Aug. 21 on felony charges of child seduction and sexual misconduct, Class D and Class B felonies respectively. The charges stem from alleged inappropriate sexual activity with one of his 14-year-old female students at Edgewood Middle School. Baatz had been a teacher at the school for over 3 years but was suspended without pay two days after his arrest.

According to a probable cause affidavit released by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor, Baatz admitted to inappropriate conduct with his former student. The acts occurred over a period of three weeks in August at his apartment in Warsaw.

The affidavit claims the 14-year-old girl told of a relationship she had with Baatz that included text messaging sentiments of love for one another, which led to sexual connotations. The girl was a student of Baatz’s in summer school and said there were several incidents of hugging and kissing that occurred in his classroom at the school. When questioned by detectives, Baatz admitted to the girl’s claims and to taking the girl to his apartment where he fondled her.

Under Indiana law, a Class B felony carries from 6 years to 20 years in prison; a Class D felony carries a penalty of 6 months to 3 years. Both charges can also carry fines up to $10,000 each.