Former Cardinal Teacher Arrested on Sex Charges
A former Cardinal math teacher sat in jail Tuesday after being arrested and charged with inappropriately touching current and former students, said Middlefield…
A former Cardinal math teacher sat in jail Tuesday after being arrested and charged with inappropriately touching current and former students, said Middlefield Police Chief Arnold Stanko.
Samuel Paskey, 44, of Cortland, was charged with three counts of sexual imposition Wednesday based on an investigation by school officials and police. He pleaded not guilty.
He was arrested at his home in Cortland after a warrant for the charges was issued, Stanko said.
Paskey resigned his position as teacher with the district at a March 14 Cardinal Schools Board of Education meeting, said acting Superintendent Matt Galemmo.
Paskey’s letter stated it was for personal reasons, Galemmo said.
He had been a teacher in the district for 11 years and also advised Cardinal High School’s student council.
Paskey was a faculty manager with the district, in charge of opening and closing the building during extracurricular activities when a school administrator could not be present. He left that position in the spring of 2009.
On Feb. 26, he was placed on administrative leave with pay as high school Principal Jim Howard began an investigation based on a parent’s phone call.
The investigation started under the former superintendent, Paul Yocum, who when reached Tuesday, said he had retired and no longer works for the district.
Howard then took up the investigation alone, interviewing current and former students — all females.
The incidents spanned multiple years, Howard said.
Stanko said the police department had been investigating Paskey for a “couple of weeks.”
Paskey was being processed at the Geauga County Safety Center Tuesday afternoon, said Lt. John Hiscox, public information officer for the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office.
Paskey’s father, Carl, was a longtime Cardinal teacher.
Geauga County Job and Family Services and the Ohio Depa-rtment of Education remain involved in the case, Galemmo said.
Paskey posted his $500 bond set by Judge Terri Stupica at Chardon Municipal Court. The charges are third-degree misdemeanors. His attorney is Ronald Yarwood. His pretrial hearing is set for April 19.
According to court records, Paskey’s address is 363 Saw Mill Court in Cortland.
