Trial continues for former Springboro gym teacher accused of sex crimes

LEBANON — The trial continues today for the former Springboro gym teacher, Austin Hopkins.  He is accused of sexually abusing nearly 30 elementary school girls.

Prosecutors are calling one more witness to the stand and then they will rest their case.  Then defense lawyers will present their side.

News Center 7’s John Bedell has been reporting from the courtroom.

INITIAL REPORT

A trial for a former Springboro gym teacher, accused of sexually abusing 28 of his young female students continued yesterday.

>> Parent, principal testify in trial of ex-Springboro teacher

Parents of those young girls took to the stand.

"It was extremely disheartening and almost frightening as a parent to hear.”

Hopkins quit his job days after the district found out abour his allegations and put him on leave last March.

>>RELATED: Hopkins trial: Five children may testify in former Springboro teacher's case

"… to hear your daughter say … to hear her say what happened that evening because the gravity of what happened at that time was just worse than as a parent what I would imagine happening to her at school."

Hopkins's defense team argues the acts against the girls were not sexual abuse, that the contact between him and his students was innocent.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 

>>Federal class-action lawsuit filed against former gym teacher, Springboro schools

>>Former Springboro PE teacher accused of sex charges involving 28 female students

>>Springboro PE teacher resigns from 2nd position amid misconduct investigation

>>Parents speak out about daughter’s abuse they say was at the hands of her teacher