Former East Troy Middle School Band Teacher Charged with Repeated Sexual Assault of Child
A former band teacher at East Troy Middle School, 45-year-old John Rash, has been charged with four counts of repeated sexual assault of a child.
The charges come after four former East Troy Middle School students reported being inappropriately touched during band lessons by Rash between August 2017 and July 2018.
According to an eight-page criminal complaint obtained by Fox 6 News Milwaukee, Rash would sit in the middle of two chairs during band lessons with smaller groups of students, and when the students sat next to him, he would touch their chest area while conducting.
The complaint states that when the students reported the inappropriate touching, the chairs were moved further apart for a while and the principal sat in on a lesson.
The East Troy Community District administrator told police that the district investigated Rash, but believed “nothing within that investigation rose to a mandatory report situation.” However, in September 2021, the Department of Public Instruction informed the Walworth County District Attorney’s Office of the reports of sexual assault.
If convicted, Rash could face a maximum fine of $100,000 and 40 years in prison for each charge.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
The East Troy Community District administrator stated that they are unable to comment on the criminal charges against a former employee at this time, but will issue a statement in the future.
