Howard Kaplan
Posted by Webmaster in Hall of Shame, ME-IS-FV, Math, Ohio, Private SchoolsHoward Kaplan, 57, a former math teacher at Western Reserve Academy, in Hudson, Ohio has been charged with nine counts of importuning and 1 count of possession of criminal tools.
Kaplan was arrested and indicted as the result of an internet sex sting conducted by officers with the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
It is alleged that Kaplan began chatting with the undercover agent posing as a 12-year-old girl in May and continued until August 21. On August 23 search warrants were executed on his home and office, located on the academy campus, and Kaplan was arrested following the search.
Reportedly, since his arrest Kaplan has been “released” by the school.
At last report Kaplan is in the Cuyahoga County jail and no mention of bail has been made.
He will be arraigned in September.
Update 9/01/07:
Reportedly Kaplan has been freed on $10,000 bail.
News reports indicate that Kaplan voluntarily left the employ of the academy after his arrest and that he and his wife have vacated campus housing.
Kaplan is scheduled for arraignment on September 12th.
Update 9/11/07:
Howard Kaplan was arraigned today and pleaded not guilty.
He remains free on $10,000 bond.
04/01/08 – Guilty On All Charges
A jury has found Howard Kaplan guilty on all charges, nine counts of importuning (soliciting sex) and one count of possessing criminal tools.
Sentencing is set for April 29th.
04/29/08 – Sentencing
Howard Kaplan has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Kaplan was also labeled a Tier 1 Offender which requires him to report his address annually for fifteen years.
References:
Prosecutor: Former teacher at Western Reserve Academy sentenced to 5 years (04/29/08)
Jurors Find Former Teacher Busted In Internet Sex Sting Guilty On All Counts (04/01/08)
Teacher Sex Sting Trial Begins (3/19/08)
Former Western Reserve Academy Teacher Pleads Not Guilty in Sex Sting (9/11/07)
Hudson teacher arrested in internet sex sting (8/28/07)
Teacher indicted on Web sex charges (8/28/07)
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I’m a freshman at WRA this year,and I just want to say that if the WRA administration allows Howard Kaplan another chance to teach at reserve, Iam leaving and am never coming back, Iadvise all reserve students to do the same.
Here’s the truth. Inappropriate teachers at WRA are put on paid leave for one year and then either return in a different capacity or go somewhere else. That’s what happened to the guy who was giving out keys to his house AND the guy who was dating the student. WRA staff and administration are the most immoral group of people in Ohio. Congrats to all of you who pay an extremely large amount of money to have your child go to that school. You’ve been ripped off! Did you think anything less from a chauvinistic headmaster who cared more about coaching lacrosse? How about a business manager that is an absolute scum bag? Everyone that has gone to that school since about 1992 knows that WAY more has gone on compared to what you’ve read in the newspaper.