Honk News (Geauga County, OH) – A former teacher from South Euclid-Lyndhurst City Schools has been charged with sex offenses related to a minor.
A grand jury in Geauga County has indicted Eric A. Schmidt, 43, from Seven Hills, on three second-degree felony counts related to the illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, along with a fifth-degree felony count for disseminating harmful material to juveniles.
On January 27, Schmidt was taken into custody by deputies from the Geauga County sheriff’s office after an investigation into claims of inappropriate behavior with a minor, according to a Facebook post.
Officials reported that the individual involved is not affiliated with the school district, as stated in a communication to families in January.
Schmidt has been put on leave from the school district following his arrest, according to a message that states this action is taken “to allow the investigation to proceed while respecting the individual’s right to due process.”
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On Friday, Feb. 28, a district spokesperson confirmed that Schmidt has resigned from the district.
If found guilty, Schmidt could receive a prison sentence ranging from two to eight years for each count of child pornography, along with a potential one-year sentence for the disseminating charge.
Court documents indicate that Schmidt paid 10% of a $20,000 bond on February 25, after his first arraignment. He is scheduled for arraignment on the new charges on March 26.