Peru teacher arrested for child seduction

[Liberalism In The News]

PERU, Ind. (WTHR) — At Peru Junior High School the news that one
of their teachers was arrested for child seduction hit hard
Tuesday night.

Elizabeth Wolfe, a parent attending a ball game said, "It’s a
shock to me for sure. Hard to believe? Yup."

28-your-old teacher Mason Zimmer was arrested for allegedly
having sex with a female student.

"Actually the mother contacted us," said Peru Police Chief
Michael Meeks. "Let us know there may have been some
inappropriate contact between the teacher and her daughter."

Someone else had let the mother know she should start looking
into something her daughter was involved in.

"In particular we’re looking at Snapchat," said Chief Meeks.
"There were social media outlets that were used." Meeks says
photos and videos were sent between Zimmer and the female
student.

"At this point we believe yes." Police say they believe the
images were of a sexual nature.

Peru Police seized all the cell phones involved and got search
warrants to examine them.

Police say they know the contact went on for at least two to
three months.

"I thought it was really surprising because I know Mr. Zimmer to
be a really nice guy. Good teacher overall. Like I’ve never even
heard of him doing anything wrong," said 18-year-old Andrew
Overton. "It’s upsetting because I know the whole school is
going to suffer because his dad is a teacher at the high school
so it’s going to be like a really depressing couple of days
couple or weeks."

Overton and his 18-year-old friend once attended Peru Junior
High where Zimmer taught until this week.

He was one of the more popular teachers, helping coach football
students say.

At the high school two years ago he taught a class that helped
students prepare for the job hunt, telling the yearbook: "We do
resumes, job applications, cover letters, and many more things
to prepare students for the real world."

"Oh it’s terrible. Sickening."

We asked parents, "How do these things happen?"

"Perverted thoughts. Lack of churching," said Derek Sharp, a
parent of a Peru high school graduate attending a game Tuesday
night.

Elizabeth Wolfe summed up the way a lot of people viewed Zimmer.

"A great teacher," said Wolfe. "Yeah it’s a shock to me for
sure."

"I don’t know him personally so I wouldn't want to judge him
unless I knew the whole story," said a grandmother stopping in
at Tuesday’s game.

Paula Guyer says, "Sometimes you hear the stories and if they’re
not true it’s ruined his life."

"In our little small town I hope it’s not true."

The school district tells Eyewitness News Zimmer has been
suspended with pay and is on administrative leave until the
investigation is over.

The superintendent also said, "The staff member in question will
not be allowed to interact with students or staff or be allowed
on school property or attend any Peru Community Schools events
and programs."

Official Statement of Sam Watkins, Peru Community Schools
Superintendent:

“Peru Community Schools is aware and has taking the appropriate
steps to ensure the safety and security of all involved.

The staff member in question has been suspended and placed on
administrative leave, with pay, until the investigation is
complete.

The staff member in question will not be allowed to interact
with students or staff, or be allowed on school property, or
attend any Peru Community Schools events and programs.

Peru Community Schools is in cooperation and communication with
the Peru Police Department regarding this matter.“

https://www.wthr.com/article/peru-teacher-arrested-child-
seduction