Charges: Duluth music teacher sexually assaulted girl at school
EDITOR'S NOTE: You can find an update on this story here.
A former Duluth music teacher is facing charges after he allegedly sexually assaulted a student while at school.
John Horgeshimer, 48, was charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in St. Louis County District Court earlier this week.
Horgeshimer was a music teacher at Raleigh Academy, a K-5 charter school in Duluth. He is accused of sexually assaulting a preteen student on March 5.
According to the criminal complaint, the girl, who was born in 2012, was at the school that morning to read to younger students. She told police that she was going to retrieve an eraser when she ran into Horgeshimer in the stairwell. She stated that he began touching her chest and that she froze.
The girl eventually slapped Horgeshimer’s hand away and was able to get away. She then went to her classroom, where she told the teacher what had happened.
Tammy Rackliffe, head of schools for Duluth Edison, told the Star Tribune that Horgeshimer underwent a background check before he was hired in August.
He was reportedly placed on administrative leave and resigned on Thursday.
