Cortland man faces sex charges

By JAMIE WARD

Geauga County Maple Leaf

MIDDLEFIELD

A former Cardinal Local Schools math teacher sits in jail after being arrested Tuesday morning and charged with inappropriately touching current and former students, said Middlefield Police Chief Arnold Stanko.

Samuel Paskey, 44, of Cortland was charged with three counts of sexual imposition based on an investigation by school officials and police.

He was arrested at his home in Cortland, Stanko said, after a warrant for the charges was issued. According to court records, Paskey’s address is 363 Saw Mill Court in Cortland.

Paskey resigned his position as teacher with the district at a March 14 school board meeting, said acting Superintendent Matt Galemmo. Paskey’s letter stated it was for personal reasons, Galemmo said. He had been a teacher at the district for 11 years and also advised the high school’s student council.

Paskey also was a faculty manager with the district, in charge of opening and closing the building during extracurricular activities when a school administrator could not be present. He left that position in the spring of 2009.

On Feb. 26, he was placed on administrative leave with pay as high school Principal Jim Howard began an investigation based on a parent’s phone call.

The investigation started under the former superintendent, Paul Yocum, who when reached Tuesday said he had retired and no longer works for the district.

Howard then took up the investigation alone, interviewing current and former students — all females. The incidents spanned multiple years, Howard said.

Stanko said the police department had been investigating Paskey for a “couple of weeks.”

Paskey was being processed at the Geauga County Safety Center Tuesday afternoon, confirmed Lt. John Hiscox, the sheriff’s spokesman.

Paskey’s father, Carl, was a longtime Cardinal teacher.

Geauga County Job and Family Services and the Ohio Department of Education remain involved in the case, Galemmo said.

Paskey posted his $500 bond set by Judge Terri Stupica at Chardon Municipal Court. The charges are third-degree misdemeanors. His attorney is Ronald Yarwood. His pretrial hearing is set for April 19.