ONTARIO (UPDATED 4:26 p.m.) – Shelby High School band director Oyun Benjamin Hyun was arrested on Monday and charged with one count of rape, a first-degree felony, according to Ontario Police.
Ontario Police Lt. Tony Grimwood stated that Hyun’s arrest stemmed from an incident that occurred in Ontario late on the night of Nov. 20, leading into the early morning hours of Nov. 21.
“There was an allegation, and we did an investigation into the incident,” Grimwood said. “Through that we did obtain a warrant for him, and he was put into the Richland County Jail.”
According to a press release, on Nov. 21 the Ontario Police Department received a call from OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital for a reported rape that occurred in Ontario’s jurisdiction. Upon further investigation, a warrant was obtained for Hyun’s arrest for a charge of rape, and he was arrested on Nov. 27.
Officers were initially informed of a “possible suicidal male involved in a possible rape,” according to the Ontario police narrative on the incident report.
“The male was later taken to OhioHealth Hospital for an evaluation. Further investigation led to an arrest warrant for the male, who was placed into custody and taken to the Richland County Jail,” the report states.
Police say they collected a Gerber knife, bed sheets, underwear and tank top as evidence.
According to the Richland County Jail’s inmate search, the 27-year-old Hyun remains in jail on one charge of first-degree felony rape. There is no bond set at this time as he awaits his preliminary hearing.
Grimwood stated Hyun is a resident of Ontario, and is employed as Director of Bands at Shelby High School. Hyun is a native of Marysville and a 2013 graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in music education. He was hired by the district in May 2015.
According to a press release from the Shelby City School District, Hyun has been placed on paid suspension pending the investigation of a criminal charge by the Ontario Police Department.
“It is the district’s understanding that the investigation involves a report of conduct that occurred off school grounds and off school time,” the statement notes. “Furthermore, the alleged incident and criminal charge(s) does not involve any current Shelby City School District student or resident of the city of Shelby.”
Grimwood confirmed the incident involving Hyun was not related in any way to his employment with Shelby.
“By no way, shape or form is this associated with Shelby schools or Shelby’s community,” Grimwood said.
A letter from Superintendent Tim Tarvin to Hyun dated Nov. 27 stated Hyun is required to notify the district immediately after his release from the Richland County Jail, and is expected to be available by phone during regular work hours to perform work that does not involve the “care, custody or control of students.”
Furthermore, Hyun is required to prepare lesson plans and submit them to Principal John Gies from a private email account by 3 p.m. each Friday for the following week, as Hyun is restricted from any school district email or social media accounts. Hyun is also restricted from the grounds of the Shelby City Schools district and restricted from communicating with parents, students or community members on matters relating to his suspension.
In his two years of employment with Shelby, Hyun made a positive impression on his students and colleagues by all reports. A teacher evaluation completed by Principal John Gies for the 2015-2016 school year stated Hyun continued to work with the rest of the department to make improvements.
“(Hyun) challenges students to improve skills, allows students to take ownership of their learning, created an atmosphere in the band program that makes students want to improve,” Gies reported.
The Ontario Police Department’s press release noted that the Shelby Police Department and the department’s School Resource Officer assisted Ontario Police in locating Hyun.
According to Grimwood, the investigation into the incident involving Hyun has been turned over to the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office.
