Former Hilliard Darby teacher accused of multi-year sexual relationship with student

Bethany Bruner, The Columbus Dispatch
·2 min read
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A former Hilliard Darby High School teacher has been charged with sexual battery following accusations of a sexual relationship with a student, court records show.
A former Hilliard Darby High School teacher has been charged with sexual battery following accusations of a sexual relationship with a student, court records show.

A former Hilliard Darby High School teacher has been charged with sexual battery after being accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a student more than a decade ago.

Brian Tonti, 48, of Plain City, is scheduled to appear for a hearing Wednesday morning in Franklin County Municipal Court.

According to court records, Tonti is accused of being involved with the student during her senior year of high school and continuing while she was in college. The former student went to Hilliard police in late December to report the relationship.

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According to court records, Tonti was involved in the theater program at the high school, as was the student. She told police Tonti kissed her in a classroom in November 2010, on her 18th birthday. The pair also engaged in other sexual conduct before the girl graduated.

The student also told police she had handwritten documentation from high school that contained "flirtatious innuendos" and "sexual context."

After graduating, the woman was a student teacher at Hilliard Darby High School where Tonti served as her mentor. The relationship between the two continued through 2013.

Tonti resigned two days after the woman went to police. He had worked at the high school for 22 years at the time of his resignation.

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Superintendent David Stewart previously said the district had started its own investigation and had placed Tonti on administrative leave prior to his resignation.

Tonti now faces a sexual battery charge. Under Ohio law, even if a student is 18 years old, it is illegal for a teacher and a student to engage in any sexual conduct.

The charge against Tonti, which is a third-degree felony, was filed on Jan. 20. Tonti was issued a summons with a court date of Wednesday morning. He does not have an attorney listed as representing him, according to court records.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Former Hilliard Darby teacher charged with relationship with student