Former phys-ed teacher admits she had sex with 3 students

By Ed Balint, The (Canton) Repository
Posted at 6:36 AM

CANTON — A former high school physical education teacher pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges tied to her sexual relationships with male students.

Tiffany M. Eichler, 36, admitted to three felony counts of sexual battery in Stark County Common Pleas Court. Judge John Haas will sentence Eichler at noon on June 19.

Christy Donnelly, an assistant Stark County prosecutor, said she will be recommending prison time for the former educator. Eichler faces a potential term of nine months to three years on each of the sexual battery charges, all third-degree felonies.

Prosecutors have said in court records that Eichler, who taught at Canton McKinley High School, engaged in sexual conduct with two 18-year-old students and one 17-year-old student. Although all are older than the age of sexual consent, Ohio law bars teachers and coaches from engaging in sexual conduct with any student.

The encounters occurred between Feb. 20 and Feb. 24, the four days Canton City Schools were open that week, according to court records filed in the case.

Appearing with her attorney Brad Iams, Eichler entered the guilty pleas and answered questions from Haas regarding waiving her right to a trial and other procedural matters.

Eichler answered the questions, “yes, sir” and “yes, your honor.”

Following the hearing, Eichler and Iams both declined to comment.
Eichler, who is married, resigned from her teaching position effective March 30. She had been placed on unpaid leave on March 9.

Eichler, who is married, resigned from her teaching position effective March 30. She had been placed on unpaid leave on March 9.

Haas ordered that a pre-sentence investigation be conducted by the probation department so he can review Eichler’s background and details of the criminal case. Eichler does not have a prior criminal record, Donnelly said following the hearing.

“I’m going to get a lot of information to make a decision,” Haas said in court.

Donnelly declined to say how much prison time the prosecutor’s office plans on recommending because the case is pending. She said she expects victims or victims’ family members to attend the sentencing hearing and give impact statements.

Eichler was indicted earlier this month. “I think this (case) has moved quicker than some of these cases of this particular nature typically do,” Donnelly said.

At the sentencing hearing, the assistant prosecutor said, it will be “more clear” why prison time is being recommended.

According to redacted police reports, detectives interviewed Eichler on March 9. She talked about multiple sexual encounters with students. In one case, she said she engaged in sexual conduct with a student twice in one evening — once in the back of her vehicle and later at the student’s house.

Eichler’s employment with the Canton City School District began in 2015 as a part-time instructor and she worked with middle school students for two years before being hired full-time at the high school for the current school year.