The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Fifth-grade teacher charged with rape

Boy describes sexual assault in Enon area

Teacher Micheal Alan Markeson, right, was taken into custody Tuesday, June 9, for allegedly attempting to have sex with a male student.

Marshall Gorby Teacher Micheal Alan Markeson, right, was taken into custody Tuesday, June 9, for allegedly attempting to have sex with a male student.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Teacher accused of rape suspended by school district

Ferguson attempts suicide after being found guilty on all 32 counts
11/21/09
State jobless rate jumps to 10.5 percent
11/20/09
Attorneys question turbine report
11/20/09
Longtime Springfield schools secretary to retire after 44 years
11/20/09
NASA images to be unveiled at Urbana University
11/20/09
> More headlines

By Emanuel Cavallaro, Staff Writer Updated 12:29 PM Wednesday, June 10, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — A fifth-grade teacher accused of sexually assaulting a male student was arrested Tuesday, June 9.

Michael A. Markeson, 28, who has taught at Indian Valley Middle School for two years and is a drama coach at Greenon High School, was charged with rape, sexual battery and gross sexual imposition. He was being held in the Clark County Jail on Tuesday night.

Below is an account of the alleged sexual assault, according to an affidavit:

The incident happened on Friday, June 5, when Markeson met the boy at a bicycle store in the Enon area. Markeson then persuaded him to go to the teacher’s house to do some odd jobs for monetary payment.

Markeson discussed the work arrangement with the victim when they arrived at the home, then invited him inside, where the teacher sexually assaulted the boy. The victim told Clark County sheriff’s deputies he repeatedly asked Markeson to stop and attempted to push him away.

Markeson, who is married with children, is scheduled to appear in court today, June 10.

The boy’s parents notified the authorities of the alleged assault, Sheriff Gene Kelly said in a press conference shortly after Markeson’s arrest.

An investigation of the allegations has turned up evidence substantial enough to support the charges, Kelly said, though he declined to say what the evidence was. Markeson has invoked his right to legal counsel.

“This man was in a position of trust,” the sheriff said. “He had a working relationship with many youths in the Enon area. If there are other victims out there, we want them to come forward.”

Lori Lytle, superintendent of Greenon schools, said the sheriff notified her after the arrest. Lytle said she is waiting for more information before taking action.

“We’ll do what we can to make a safe environment at Greenon,” she said. “One of our teachers has been arrested, but we still don’t know all the facts.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0367  or ecavallaro@coxohio.com.

Share this article