September 16, 2014
Texas Police: Teacher Used Grindr to Hookup With Teen Boy
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Texas police arrested and charged a music teacher with sexual assault of a child last week, after authorities say he was caught sneaking out of the home of a 15-year-old boy, Dallas/Fort Worth ABC-affiliate station WFAA reports.
The homeowners called police on Sept. 10, reporting what they believed to be a burglary at her home in McKinney, Texas, police said in a press release Friday. But police found Roger Kessler, 43, trying to flee the home.
Police determined Kessler was not trying to rob the house but, according to an affidavit, he was using the gay hookup app Grindr to meet the 15-year-old boy and have sexual relations with him. They met about four times in total.
The affidavit also says the teacher told police he his HIV-positive but used protection with the teen during all encounters except one. Kessler also admitted the teen was not aware of his HIV status.
"The homeowner saw a male suspect fleeing the residence and the homeowner was able to detain the suspect until police arrived," said Sabrina Boston, of McKinney police. "We feel very confident the victim was never a student of Mr. Kessler's."
According to a local CBS station, the boy is not a student at Richardson ISD Academy, where Kessler taught for 14 years but is currently on administrative leave.
"Richardson ISD learned Thursday that RISD Academy music teacher Roger Joe Kessler was arrested by McKinney Police and charged with the offense of sexual assault of a child," the Richardson School District said in a statement last week. "Police have indicated that the charge does not involve a student at RISD Academy or in RISD. Mr. Kessler has been placed on administrative leave, pending the resolution of the situation. Kessler has been a music teacher in RISD for 14 years, all at RISD Academy, with no history of complaints of this nature. RISD Academy parents were informed through a letter home Thursday."
"I am totally shocked," Joanne Jordan, one of Kessler's neighbors, told WFAA. "He's a very nice guy ... I'm totally shocked."
Kessler is currently on a $250,000 bond.
