Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
A Marion School District teacher was charged in Waupaca County on Friday with sexual assault of a child and three counts of child enticement.
Timothy A. Gast, 43, of rural Shawano, became the subject of an investigation by Marion police and Shawano County sheriff’s detectives late last month.
Gast is a music teacher at the high school, as well as the golf coach. He has been placed on indefinite suspension by the Marion School District, according to a news release from the Marion Police Department.
Marion police were notified on April 24 by an 18-year-old student at the high school of inappropriate text messages she had received four years ago from a teacher. The student stated that text messages were received outside of school.
“Due to the fact the student lives outside of Marion’s city limits, the case was initially referred to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department for investigation as it was believed the violation occurred in their jurisdiction,” Chief Kevin Schultz said in the news release.
Marion police assisted Shawano County authorities in obtaining information and setting up an interview with the student.
On Wednesday, police received a written statement from the student that sexual contact was made by the teacher with the student four years ago when the student was 14 years old.
Police investigated the incident and subsequently arrested Gast.
“The Marion Police Department had the full cooperation and worked closely with the Marion School District during this investigation,” Schultz said. “The student came forward with the allegations after the Marion Police Department gave an internet safety presentation to students at the Marion Junior/Senior High School.”
Gast was ordered held on a $5,000 cash bond after an initial appearance in Waupaca County Circuit Court on Friday.
He is scheduled for an adjourned initial appearance on Tuesday.
Gast could face a maximum 40 years in prison and $100,000 fine if convicted of repeated sexual assault of a child, and 25 years and a $100,000 fine for each count of child enticement-sexual contact.