Ex-Centerville teacher’s trial on sex charges delayed

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CENTERVILLE — The trial for a former Centerville High School teacher who is accused of an improper relationship with a female student that was scheduled to begin today has been delayed until May.

Samuel Glenn, 30, is now serving in the U.S. Army.

Glenn is charged with sexual battery.

Glenn joined the military between the time of the initial investigation of the alleged incidents in 2017 and the indictment in January.

Details contained in investigative documents obtained by this news organization reveal that he allegedly engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student and also made several inappropriate overtures to other students via social media.

“This was a consensual sexual relationship, but the consensual doesn’t matter, he was in a position of authority and no matter how you play it, it’s against the law,” Centerville police officer John Davis told this media outlet following the indictment.

The incident reportedly happened between Jan. 14 and 15 in 2017. Centerville police opened an investigation into the relationship in May 2017. The investigation was closed without any charges being filed after the student involved declined to participate, police said in May 2017.

New information surfaced, prompting detectives to reopen the investigation. Several emails revealed that Glenn allegedly allowed students to skip class and maintained a flirtatious nature with students while corresponding with them. One person reported to the school district seeing a student post something on Twitter indicating inappropriate conduct by Glenn.

After news of the indictment was released, Centerville City Schools Community Relations Specialist, Sarah Swan said, “We take the safety of our students seriously, and we reacted immediately when the information came to our attention.”