Ex-Eaton HS band director changes plea, found guilty on 2 counts

EATON, Ohio (WDTN) — A former band director at Eaton High School has been found guilty of charges related to “inappropriate contact” with a student.

Eaton teacher facing charges, accused of ‘inappropriate contact’ with student

2 NEWS was in the courtroom on Wednesday afternoon, where Paul Bingle changed his original plea of not guilty to guilty. After that, the judge found Bingle guilty on two counts:

  • Sexual battery
  • Unlawful sexual conduct

Bingle will also need to register as a Tier 3 sex offender with the sheriff in-person and in the county where he lives (within three days of establishing residency).

Bingle will be sentenced on Nov. 19 at 1 p.m.

Court has adjourned for the day.

In August, he was indicted on eight counts:

  • 4 counts of grooming, first-degree misdemeanors
  • 1 count of sexual battery, a second-degree felony, including a sexually violent predator specification
  • 1 count of sexual battery, a fourth-degree felony
  • 1 count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a third-degree felony
  • 1 count of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a fifth-degree felony

During Wednesday’s court session, five were dropped…

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