Akron schools employee charged with raping ex-girlfriend's daughters

AKRON, Ohio - An employee of the Akron Public Schools has been suspended after being charged with sexual conduct with a minor.

D’Juan Shields, who worked as an educational assistant at Hyre Community Learning Center, was suspended on Tuesday, the school district said.

Akron Police Lt. Rick Edwards said Shields was charged with two counts of rape and three counts gross sexual imposition on Tuesday. Edwards said the alleged rapes did not happen at school, instead the abuse happened at the victims’ home.

The incidents occurred between December 2011 and April 2012, when the victims were 7 and 10, Edwards said. The victims are the daughters of Shields’ ex-girlfriend and they recently came forward with the allegations.

Shields was booked into the Summit County Jail and will appear in Akron Municipal Court on Wednesday.

Under Ohio law, the school district is required to suspend any employee that is arrested or indicted, if their work duties include care or custody of children.

According to minutes from an Akron Public Schools meeting, Shields was an assistant for autism disorders, working 35 hours a week. He was also the sire director for Hale Farm, as part of an Akron YMCA program.