A former Rochester High School teacher accused of having sex with students was given a $200,000 cash bond during her arraignment.
Oakland County prosecutors have charged Kathryn Houghtaling with six counts of criminal sexual conduct. One of the alleged assaults is said to have occurred in a car; the other, in an apartment.
Kathryn Houghtaling was arraigned Friday on six counts of criminal sexual conduct. One of the alleged assaults occurred in a car; the other, in an apartment.
If her bond is posted, Houghtaling is not allowed to have contact with anyone involved in the case and is also banned from any Rochester Public Schools property.
According to a notice from Rochester Community Schools that was sent out Tuesday, Jan. 8, the teacher was fired following a district-led investigation.
In a recent statement released by Superintendent Robert Shaner of Rochester Community Schools Thursday afternoon, Shaner states that Houghtaling will be arraigned Friday, Jan. 11 on charges of criminal sexual conduct.
He made a point to let families know that as soon as the district learned of Houghtaling's alleged behavior, an investigation was conducted.
Read Shaner's complete statement below:
Today, the Rochester Community School District was notified by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office that former Rochester High School Teacher Kathryn Houghtaling will be arraigned Friday morning on charges of criminal sexual conduct. The charges are related to an alleged incident involving inappropriate conduct with students after school hours. As soon as the District learned of the alleged incidents on Tuesday, an investigation was conducted, which resulted in Houghtaling’s immediate termination. The safety and welfare of our students and staff is always our primary concern. We are thankful for our partnership with the Rochester Police Department, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, and our security consultants who provide us with the necessary guidance to make informed decisions. The District fully cooperated with law enforcement officials throughout the investigation. In order to protect the integrity of the criminal investigation process, the District did not publicly disclose any information that could have a negative impact on the case while the investigation was pending. Rochester Community Schools is committed to providing a safe, positive, and supportive learning environment for every student. District personnel are required to meet the highest standards of personal integrity, professionalism, and performance. Employees whose conduct or performance falls short of expectations will be subject to disciplinary action, or in this case, termination. All members of our school community will experience an environment where they are safe, valued, and respected. Our support staff of counselors, social workers and psychologists are available to provide ongoing support for students and staff who are struggling with processing this disturbing information. We also appreciate your support to encourage your son or daughter to talk to a trusted adult if they see, hear, or experience something that doesn’t seem right. They can also anonymously report information using OK2SAY at www.michigan.gov/ok2say.
