Band teacher charged with having sex with student

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By Beth Boehne

CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) — A school band teacher faces child molestation charges for allegedly having sex with one of his 14-year-old students repeatedly at the school over a 10-month period.

James Ciammetti, 41, of Oak Lawn, Ill., was charged Friday with five felonies — two counts of child molesting, two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and one count of child solicitation. He was being held Saturday at the Lake County Jail on a $160,000 bail.

Ciammetti had sex multiple times on school grounds with a girl who was in one of his eighth-grade classes at Clark Middle/High School in Hammond, according to Lake County Criminal Court records.

His alleged activities were discovered by the girl's father, who was using a computer program that tracks his children's activities on the family's computers.

Ciammetti and the girl had traded more than 1,100 e-mails, most of them sexual or obscene in nature, prosecutors said. He had been the girl's band teacher since sixth grade.

The girl told investigators she and her teacher "sort of have a relationship" in which she and Ciammetti spent time together in the band room or his office, court records shows.

Their friendship turned sexual in nature in November 2007, police said.

Court records state that at various times, the two had sex in Ciammetti's office, the band storage room and main band room. Court records state that they had intercourse 10 times, with the last sex act taking place about two weeks ago.

Ciammetti "always told her that he loved her," the girl is quoted in court records as saying. He told the girl they would get married and have children together when they got older, records show.

Ciammetti was suspended without pay because of the "seriousness of the situation," Hammond schools Superintendent Walter Watkins said Thursday.

Ciammetti has taught for 16 years and has a master's degree and a teaching license that will expire next July, according to state education records.

A state-maintained class roster shows that last school year, Ciammetti taught a multiple-grade instrumental music class and concert band classes for high school students.

The roster also lists Ciammetti as a "middle level adviser" for eighth-graders.

___

Information from: The Times, http://www.thetimesonline.com

Wednesday, Sep 10 at 11:27 AM Go Black wrote ...

Funny how nobody wants to talk about it when it right in front of their faces too! How pathetic!

Tuesday, Sep 9 at 6:32 PM anonymous wrote ...

Go Falcons!c/o 1996

Tuesday, Sep 9 at 5:06 PM tom k wrote ...

I believe anonymous is referring to an incident at John Glenn. I attended school at the time and couldn't believe how administration worked to keep everything under wraps. Maybe because the pedophile was the boy's basketball coach. How sad.

Tuesday, Sep 9 at 11:45 AM We ALL Know! wrote ...

Yeah we're all talking about the same people. Everyone knew then and most do now, the police, the school board, parents, teachers, you name it! Why was nothing done? It's the question we all (well most) wonder to this very day! You might say it's called prominence! That still doesn't make it right for some and not others now does it?

Tuesday, Sep 9 at 5:19 AM forgot this wrote ...

Oh, and I am most curious why no one has questioned the marriage of a former student to their teacher?

Tuesday, Sep 9 at 5:16 AM interesting wrote ...

I think I know who 645 am Anonymous is referring to. They are married with children now. Everybody at the school and many parents knew about it at the time.

Monday, Sep 8 at 8:20 PM Big ole Man wrote ...

It's time for the band leader to face the music. This is so sick, I hope he get's jail time to the tune of life imprisonment. The sports leader at Laville has nothing to do with this at all. Some "get a rise" out of people person wrote this to do an evil deed. Stick to the real story you idiots!

Monday, Sep 8 at 7:41 PM FireStorm wrote ...

What did his wife say? That girl will never be normal do to this

Monday, Sep 8 at 6:01 PM To 6:23 wrote ...

You're oh so close, it happened there too...sheesh!

Monday, Sep 8 at 6:01 PM child at laville wrote ...

whats this about the head sports person at laville? please fill me in! thank you

Monday, Sep 8 at 5:45 PM Anonymous wrote ...

That happens more than you know. I know it happened where I went to school but that was 17yrs ago. The teacher got no trouble and now they both work for the school and are together. I guess what makes the different now is there is press and it's brought to ppl attention more now. If it was my kid all hell would be breakin loose. To me that is praying on a child that has no idea what love is. My daughter at 16 is forever fallin in love every other week.

Monday, Sep 8 at 5:23 PM Anonymous wrote ...

12.27 was that laville and the head sports person ????????

Monday, Sep 8 at 11:53 AM Gary wrote ...

There's no excuse for this behavior! If it were my daughter - the police may never have reached him...

Monday, Sep 8 at 11:27 AM Not So Shocked wrote ...

Maybe he did plan on marrying her. Same thing happened in my school 20 odd years ago and nobody believed it until they did finally get married after she graduated. No kidding!

Monday, Sep 8 at 9:19 AM Linda wrote ...

Disgusting! but why don't the parents put blocks on home computers so this stuff doesn't get started via the email. Why didn't she come and talk to her parents about this situation? Was she actually interested in the teacher and chose to be with him. It's just a question and no I don't condone it. It's gross. I am just curious if she wasn't a little interested in him the first place

Monday, Sep 8 at 6:25 AM bee wrote ...

what about innocent until your band teacher takes it from you?

Sunday, Sep 7 at 6:48 PM Anonymous wrote ...

remember,innocent until proven guilty

Sunday, Sep 7 at 5:40 PM Frank wrote ...

These are the guys that could never get a real women.

Sunday, Sep 7 at 12:02 PM me wrote ...

hmmm... child molesting ,sexual misconduct with a minor ,child solicitation , wonder which one covers the child rape part

Saturday, Sep 6 at 8:07 PM k wrote ...

unbelievable!!!! pretty sad when a 41 year old has to turn to a 14 year old for sex!!!

Saturday, Sep 6 at 7:23 PM Jason wrote ...

Yikes, stick a fork in Ciammetti...

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