http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/06/08/child-molester-gets-seven-years.html
Molester gets seven years for school assaults on special-needs girls
By John Futty
The Columbus Dispatch Friday June 8, 2012 5:31 AM
Comments: 5
The mother of a 10-year-old girl who was molested by an instructor at a Columbus charter school for special-needs students told a Franklin County judge yesterday that the man stole her daughter’s innocence.
“It’s an ultimate betrayal,” she said. “I can’t imagine the fear she felt, how scared she was."
Nick R. Wickerham, 61, was sentenced to seven years in prison on three counts of gross sexual imposition — one for each of his young victims. He entered an Alford plea to the charges, meaning he didn’t admit guilt but conceded that the state had enough evidence to obtain a conviction.
Three girls — ages 7, 10 and 13 — told investigators that Wickerham molested them last year when he was working as a martial-arts instructor at Summit Academy, a charter school that serves students with autism and Asperger’s syndrome.
Each girl reported that she was alone with Wickerham in his office or in the martial-arts room when he placed his hand down the front of her pants and touched her vagina, Assistant Prosecutor Dan Hawkins said.
In the first case, the 10-year-old girl said Wickerham groped her while helping her try on martial-arts pants in his office on Dec. 9. The girl told a staff member about the incident on Dec. 14, and Wickerham resigned two days later.
After his resignation was announced to parents, two more girls came forward with similar allegations, Hawkins said. The girls are sisters who told their mother about being touched inappropriately.
Wickerham, of Morse Road in Jefferson Township, did not make a statement in court.
Common Pleas Judge Richard A. Frye imposed the sentence recommended by the prosecution and defense. He also said Wickerham is a sex offender who must register his home address for 25 years after his release from prison.
[email protected]
Molester gets seven years for school assaults on special-needs girls
By John Futty
The Columbus Dispatch Friday June 8, 2012 5:31 AM
Comments: 5
The mother of a 10-year-old girl who was molested by an instructor at a Columbus charter school for special-needs students told a Franklin County judge yesterday that the man stole her daughter’s innocence.
“It’s an ultimate betrayal,” she said. “I can’t imagine the fear she felt, how scared she was."
Nick R. Wickerham, 61, was sentenced to seven years in prison on three counts of gross sexual imposition — one for each of his young victims. He entered an Alford plea to the charges, meaning he didn’t admit guilt but conceded that the state had enough evidence to obtain a conviction.
Three girls — ages 7, 10 and 13 — told investigators that Wickerham molested them last year when he was working as a martial-arts instructor at Summit Academy, a charter school that serves students with autism and Asperger’s syndrome.
Each girl reported that she was alone with Wickerham in his office or in the martial-arts room when he placed his hand down the front of her pants and touched her vagina, Assistant Prosecutor Dan Hawkins said.
In the first case, the 10-year-old girl said Wickerham groped her while helping her try on martial-arts pants in his office on Dec. 9. The girl told a staff member about the incident on Dec. 14, and Wickerham resigned two days later.
After his resignation was announced to parents, two more girls came forward with similar allegations, Hawkins said. The girls are sisters who told their mother about being touched inappropriately.
Wickerham, of Morse Road in Jefferson Township, did not make a statement in court.
Common Pleas Judge Richard A. Frye imposed the sentence recommended by the prosecution and defense. He also said Wickerham is a sex offender who must register his home address for 25 years after his release from prison.
[email protected]
http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2012/01/09/columbus-teacher-alleged-sexual-assault.html
School Employee Arrested For Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Student
Monday January 9, 2012 5:20 AM
UPDATED: Monday January 9, 2012 6:06 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio - An employee of a Columbus-area school was accused of sexually assaulting a student in December. Nick Wickerham was charged with gross sexual imposition, 10TV’s Ashleigh Barry reported. The alleged victim is 10-years-old. Her mother said that the girl struggled with the disturbing secret for days.
The mother, who did not want to be identified, said Wickerham was a physical education teacher at Summit Academy. She told Barry that Wickerham was also a martial arts instructor and that the alleged incident happened when her daughter changed outfits. “He had her change her pants in the office and then he came in and said ‘let me check to see if it’s too tight,’” the mother said.
She said that is when Wickerham touched her daughter inappropriately. The instructor denied those claims, Barry reported. “They always say ‘It's the person right in front of your face that you least expect,’ but I just never thought it would happen to my child,” said the mother. The mother said the school took immediate action and that Wickerham had since been fired. Stay with 10TV and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.
©2012 by 10TV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
School Employee Arrested For Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Student
Monday January 9, 2012 5:20 AM
UPDATED: Monday January 9, 2012 6:06 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio - An employee of a Columbus-area school was accused of sexually assaulting a student in December. Nick Wickerham was charged with gross sexual imposition, 10TV’s Ashleigh Barry reported. The alleged victim is 10-years-old. Her mother said that the girl struggled with the disturbing secret for days.
The mother, who did not want to be identified, said Wickerham was a physical education teacher at Summit Academy. She told Barry that Wickerham was also a martial arts instructor and that the alleged incident happened when her daughter changed outfits. “He had her change her pants in the office and then he came in and said ‘let me check to see if it’s too tight,’” the mother said.
She said that is when Wickerham touched her daughter inappropriately. The instructor denied those claims, Barry reported. “They always say ‘It's the person right in front of your face that you least expect,’ but I just never thought it would happen to my child,” said the mother. The mother said the school took immediate action and that Wickerham had since been fired. Stay with 10TV and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.
©2012 by 10TV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.