Wednesday, November 7th, 2012

Teacher faces sex charge

By Margie Wuebker

A Fort Recovery High School teacher was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a sex-related charge involving a former student.

Christopher Alan Summers, 32, 671 Woodlawn Ave., St. Henry, faces one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony. He remains in the Mercer County Detention Facility.

Summers, who is reportedly married and has children, taught accounting and formerly served as track coach and girls junior varsity basketball coach.

The Mercer County Sheriff's Office learned of the alleged offenses about 3 p.m. Monday when contacted by the victim, who is now 18 and no longer a student, and her family. The alleged offenses occurred over a three-year period at Summers' home as well as at a hotel in a neighboring county, sheriff Jeff Grey said. Investigators have no reason to believe the conduct occurred during school events or on school property, he added.

Sheriff deputies arrested Summers at his home on Tuesday and seized items that included computers, cameras, electronic equipment and other articles the victim reportedly described.

The investigation is continuing; authorities are not aware of other victims, Grey said.

The case is under review by the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office to determine whether additional charges are warranted. Summers is scheduled to appear at 4:15 p.m. today in Celina Municipal Court.

Superintendent Shelly Vaughn said Summers was placed on paid administrative leave Tuesday.

A review of Summers' personnel file by The Daily Standard revealed prior infractions. On June 30, 2011, Summers met Vaughn and high school principal Jeff Hobbs regarding an incident when he slept in the girls' dorm at a Findlay girls basketball camp even though male quarters had been prepared for him.

Also at that meeting, Summers was reprimanded for being too friendly with basketball players, having unauthorized closed-door meetings with students, texting students and players about things not related to basketball and a general lack of communication with other members of the coaching staff.

He resigned from the basketball post a week later, citing health issues and a desire to spend more time with family and classroom-related duties.

"Until such time as more facts are provided to the district, we are not in a position to provide further comment," Vaughn said this morning.

Sexual battery involves unauthorized touching of a sexual nature. If convicted, Summers faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

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