Oberlin Superintendent David Hall told newsnet5.com that he’s just learning many of the details surrounding the indictment of former teacher Jacob Garlock, who pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges in November.
Many Eastwood Elementary parents told newsnet5.com they felt they should have been notified of the circumstances of Garlock’s administrative leave after he was found guilty.
Hall confirmed that Garlock, 27, was a first grade teacher at Eastwood Elementary from 2012 until his administrative leave and resignation in May of 2015.
According to federal court documents, the FBI began investigating the teacher after they received a complaint in February 2015 about Garlock and “inappropriate conduct with one of his students.”
The following day agents interviewed Garlock, which is when he voluntarily provided his laptop to agents for review.
A forensic analysis of the laptop revealed “more than one image depicting real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.”
The FBI confirmed the investigation with newsnet5.com, saying agents in Elyria were involved.
According to the plea deal obtained by newsnet5.com, Garlock pleaded guilty to one count of child pornography in a document signed Nov. 18.
He’s subject to a minimum fine of $250,000 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 18.
Hall said he only took over his position in August after the death of former superintendent John Schroth.
Hall said he received few details of the case from the files he inherited but was told that parents were notified of Garlock’s administrative leave immediately following official notice of the FBI investigation.
“They were just accusations at the time so we could not elaborate,” Hall said.
Hall said Garlock officially resigned at the close of the school year and the district received few details from investigators after that point.
He said the district was made aware of the plea deal in November, but not the specifics. Looking back he said he wished he could have kept parents better informed.
“I wish that we would have had more details at the time but because it was an outside investigation, we didn’t have a good line of communication,” Hall said.
Hall said he only began learning the majority of the details in the last week or so. He said investigators assured him that no Oberlin students we’re involved in the actual criminal complaint and that the images were contained to the teacher’s private laptop.
Still many parents told newsnet5.com they were upset that no formal notice of the charges and guilty plea were shared with parents.
“At least they should have had a meeting for parents to go to so if they have any questions that they need to answer or counselors or something,” said Aja Jones, whose son was at Eastwood last year while Garlock was still teaching. “For kids, that’s probably traumatizing if they hear that.”
Hall said the district will continue to investigate and promised to share future updates with parents.
As part of the plea deal, Garlock formally resigned his Ohio teaching license.
He could face up to 20 years in prison at next month’s sentencing.
