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Schools

Teacher Acquitted of Rape Returning to Lakewood Schools

Despite concerns from parents, Brian Biermann — found not guilty of rape, sexual battery and kidnapping charges in 2010 — is slated to return to the district to teach at middle school.

Several concerned parents wanted answers at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting as word spread that English teacher Brian Biermann was returning to the district following a three-year hiatus. 

Biermann was accused, tried and acquitted of rape, sexual battery and kidnapping charges in March of 2010

Now, three years after the charges were leveled against him, Biermann is slated to return to teach seventh grade English at . 

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Parents objected to the decision, and Superintendent Jeff Patterson said the district did its due diligence investigating the matter. 

“Mr. Biermann has gone through three layers of examination regarding the case that was against him that stems back to October of 2008,” he said. “He was found not guilty in the court of law, and during two subsequent investigations – one by the Ohio Department of Education and one by the attorneys for the Lakewood City Schools – there was no evidence found against Mr. Biermann that would cause him to either lose his teaching license or his teaching position with the district. 

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“In fact, legally, the district is required to bring Mr. Biermann back to a teaching position.” 

The charges stemmed from an incident that allegedly occurred between him and a 15-year-old student at on January 6, 2004. 

According to prosecutors, the student met Biermann after class to review an English paper when the alleged crimes occurred, according to The Plain Dealer

Biermann waived his right to a jury trial, and he and his former student testified in front of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Timothy McCormick. After only a few days of testimony, McCormick found Biermann not guilty on all counts. 

At Monday's school board meeting, parents urged the board to comment on the matter, but they refused, citing the fact that they don’t discuss personnel business in public.

Bierman could not be reached for comment.

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