CINCINNATI — A Cincinnati teacher is accused of trying to engage in sexual activity with an underage student.
Authorities arrested Riverside Academy P.E. teacher Micah Branch, 34, at his home on Monday.
Branch is charged with one count of importuning, one count of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles and one count of sexual imposition after a joint investigation between the Cincinnati Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office's Regional Electronics & Computer Investigations section.
Branch is accused of sending a nude picture of himself to a student and touching a student inappropriately. Court documents state the victim is 15.
Neighbor Kevin Bissmeyer witnessed the arrest Monday morning.
"A couple of cop cars pulled up. There were two or three cop cars, about nine or 10 guys went up to the building and they surrounded it,” Bissmeyer said. “It took a couple of minutes, and then they brought the guy out."
Another neighbor, Mary Beisler, said she has seen Branch around the apartment complex in passing but doesn't know him well. She also witnessed Branch’s arrest.
“I don't know if they were undercover, but they were plainclothes cops with their badges and guns,” Beisler said. “And then they took my neighbor away in handcuffs."
Beisler said she was shocked when she learned why her neighbor was being arrested.
As a teacher herself, Beisler said it was hard for her to hear.
"Yeah, that's probably like the worst thing a teacher can do," she said. "That's really disappointing. I feel like teachers have a bad enough rap as it is. We don't really need anything else added to our plate."
Superintendent Jamie Brady provided the following statement on behalf of Riverside Academy:
“Upon learning of the alleged conduct, Riverside Academy immediately informed law enforcement and ODE and has fully cooperated with the police during their investigation. The moment we became aware of the inappropriate conduct, we initiated a thorough investigation and took immediate action to terminate the teacher's employment.”
“I’m just a little bit disappointed in just our society in general,” Beisler said. “The fact that somebody can think they can do that and get away with it and that it's okay, even if it's a child.”
Officials did not say whether they believe there are any additional victims.
At his arraignment Tuesday, Branch was given a $8,000 bond (10%).
READ MORE
'Fantasy fuels the behavior': Popular Tri-State Luke Skywalker impersonator faces child porn charges
Turpin High School teacher resigns as investigation finds inappropriate communication with former student
Jury finds Jacob Bumpass guilty of multiple charges in connection to Paige Johnson's death
