SHELBY, Ohio – A Shelby Middle School teacher pleaded not guilty to disseminating material harmful to juveniles after students observed nude photographs on her cell phone.
Paige Poffenbaugh, 24, appeared in Shelby Municipal Court on Monday morning and pleaded not guilty to the first-degree misdemeanor. Poffenbaugh stated in court that she is currently seeking an attorney; no further court date has been set.
According to a press release from the Shelby Police Department, on Friday, April 24 the department was made aware of an incident that occurred at Shelby Middle School where five male students observed images on Pofffenbaugh’s cell phone that included several nude photographs of the teacher.
The incident is alleged to have occurred between Shelby City Schools’ winter and spring break in 2015 – students returned from winter break on January 5 and were released for spring break on March 28.
Once the Shelby Police Department was made aware of the incident, an investigation was immediately initiated and less than 12 hours later a search warrant for Poffenbaugh’s cell phone was signed by Crawford County Probate Judge Steven Eckstein. The warrant was served in Galion and Poffenbaugh was interviewed, issued a summons for disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, then released.
According to the press release, the Shelby Police Department investigation has concluded that there is “neither any allegation nor evidence of any direct relationship between the teacher and any of the students.” The viewing of the material appears to be unintentional on the part of the teacher, said the release.
Shelby City Schools was immediately notified of the complaint and kept up to date of the progress of the Shelby Police investigation, and a parallel internal investigation was launched.
“She has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of our ongoing investigation,” said Superintendent Tim Tarvin.
Poffenbaugh is a native of Galion and graduated from The Ohio State University Mansfield campus. She is currently in her first year of teaching fifth grade math at Shelby Middle School.
Richland County Children’s Services was also immediately notified and parents of the involved students were notified of the incident and the subsequent investigation. Due to the ongoing nature of the Shelby City School internal investigation, the Shelby Police Department stated it would not comment further on this case until the school has had an opportunity to conclude their investigation.
