School principal arrested Wednesday morning and faces a sexual battery charge
Staff report
POLAND
A township religious school principal was arrested Wednesday morning and faces a sexual battery charge.
Christopher Stivers, 31, of Idora Lane, Struthers, principal of Gospel Baptist School, Clingan Road, was arrested around 1:25 a.m. at the police department after questioning. He is charged with sexual battery of a 14-year-old girl, according to a police report. The charge is a third-degree felony.
A police report states that Stivers is in the Mahoning County jail.
Police Chief Brian Goodin said police received a call from the parents of the girl after she told them what happened.
The Gospel Baptist Church’s pastor, Ron Royalty, was notified of the allegation against Stivers, who also is the assistant pastor of the church.
Stivers’ bond was set at $100,000 during an arraignment in Struthers Municipal Court. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 2
The victim and her family attend the Gospel Baptist Church, according to a statement from the church.
“Our prayers are with the family of the teenage girl and Mr. Stivers’ family,” the church said in a prepared statement.