WAGONER, Okla. -- The Wagoner County District Attorney has filed charges against a local school employee.
Former Wagoner High School Dean of Students Robert Schaefer is facing two counts of misdemeanor battery from an incident involving a female student under the age of 16.
On November 30, a student told police she was upset at school. She said Schaefer, a longtime friend of the family, grabbed her arm and took her into the janitor's closet.
According to court documents, the 54-year old asked the girl if everything was alright. She told police she said everything was fine and he then started kissing on her forehead. The teen said he also hugged her and rubbed her back. She said she was uncomfortable.
The girl said the teacher did not touch any private areas of her body or try to reach under her clothes.
Schaefer had been with the school since the early 1990s.
"This is a case involving schools," Jack Thorp, District 27 District Attorney, said. "You know everyone wants their kids to be safe at school."
Schaefer denied to police that he kissed the girl. He was later given a lie detector test that showed deception in his answer to that question, according to documents.
Thorp said there was surveillance video near the janitor's closet that has been entered into evidence.
The District Attorney's Office filed two misdemeanor battery charges against Schaefer, instead of sexual battery.
"In order for there to be a sexual battery, there has to be lewd or lascivious conduct and based on our application of the law and the facts, we believed battery was the more appropriate charge," Thorp said.
Schaefer turned himself into police Thursday evening and bonded out immediately.
Wagoner Public Schools said Schaefer resigned from his duties on Dec. 15 but would not say if it is because of the accusations.
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