Plea Hearing Set For Former Teacher
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.
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.