A Michigan teacher accused with multiple sex crimes last month was probed by school officials for alleged inappropriate behavior with pupils months prior.
Waverly Community Schools (WCS) high school teacher Robert Herzing was arrested on September 12 following a months-long criminal investigation. According to court filings, before the arrest, an Eaton County Sheriff’s Office detective was texting Herzing while pretending to be a 15-year-old child.
The detective created a phony account on Grindr under the name “Ryan,” which is described in court records as “an app used for homosexual males to meet and hook up.” “Ryan” started conversing with Herzing via the app in January, and the teacher revealed his profession to the alleged 15-year-old in May, according to the records.
During the talks, Herzing allegedly acknowledged that he was seeking a “friends with benefits” arrangement. He asked “Ryan” to provide a photo of himself, which prompted the detective to submit a photo of a person “altered to look like a 15-year-old boy,” according to the records.
According to court filings, “Ryan” later told Herzing he was 15 via text message. Herzing allegedly tried to get “Ryan” to meet in public to talk, claiming “it’s illegal for us to message about anything sexual.”
According to court filings, the two finally agreed to meet at the Delta Township Library in Waverly on September 12 after months of messaging back and forth. Herzing was caught there, and it was said that he had a bag containing “condoms” and “multiple lubes” in his vehicle.
Herzing was then charged with criminal sexual behavior, accosting youngsters for immoral purposes, and using a computer to communicate with another to commit a crime, all of which are felonies. His next court appearance is slated for October 28.
Michigan Enjoyer reported: Tuesday Herzing was placed on paid administrative leave in March after reportedly engaging in sexually charged talks with pupils at school.WCS staff allegedly overheard Herzing discussing orgasms with pupils and answering sex-related queries.
In one claimed exchange concerning orgasms, the teacher advised a student “that it takes a guy a while to recover, but there are other things he can do while waiting,” according to Michigan Enjoyer.
WCS confirmed the district’s probe to Crisis in the Classroom (CITC) on Thursday. The district stated that all relevant pupils were interviewed at the time, but none could “corroborate” the allegations.
When questioned about the charges, Herzing stated that he urged the youngsters to discuss the issues with their health teacher, according to WCS. The district stated that Herzing was eventually allowed to return to teaching after WCS spoke with its attorney.
WCS informed CITC that the district was unaware Herzing, who is no longer employed, was under criminal investigation until September 13. The district stated that Herzing was placed on leave again as soon as it learned of the criminal inquiry.
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Michigan teacher charged with sex crimes probed for inappropriate behavior months earlier