By ALEC KELLER
Kenton Times staff writer
KENTON — Families and friends of the defendant and the victim gathered in Hardin County Common Pleas Court Monday morning to await the sentencing of a former Kenton High School social studies teacher.
Dustin Clapsaddle, 35, of Kenton was convicted in late June by a jury on the counts of rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, and kidnapping of a KHS student.
After hearing from the prosecution, victim and defendant, Judge Steve Christopher sentenced Clapsaddle to a consecutive 10 years in prison, with credit for 107 days served.
In oral arguments prior to sentencing, the state argued for a consecutive sentencing of 9 years for 3 of the felonies, and 12 months for gross sexual imposition, citing it as a separate act from the rape crime and requested that the charges do not run concurrent with one another.
“He was someone that students and parents were supposed to look up to to keep our kids safe.” said assistant prosecutor McKenzie Klinger, “This is a case of a person using his authority to take advantage of one of his students. The defendant had the responsibility to prevent these crimes. However, he was the one engaging in them.”
The state, as well as the judge, referred to Clapsaddle as having no genuine remorse for his crimes. Clapsaddle’s counsel, Rocky Ratliff, refuted the prosecutor’s argument, expressing that rumors can happen in small towns and that he was unsure how his client can express genuine remorse for a crime he did not commit.
Christopher allowed the victim to speak. She shakily gave an address to the court, trying to bite back tears while she recalled looking up to Clapsaddle as a 16, going on 17-year-old student in the classroom. She initially referred to him as ‘the cool teacher,’ giving her his number while informing her to keep it a secret. She surmised that what he was doing at the time was acceptable.
“I finally know now that it is not my fault that I trusted him. It was not my fault when he pinned me down and thrust himself into me. It was your fault,” she said to Clapsaddle. “I had to spend hours in the shower trying to scrub you off of me. You are a disgusting monster who deserves zero remorse for what you did. I hope you sit in that prison, feeling disgusted and ashamed as you have made me feel in that night.”
With a note in his hands, an emotionless Clapsaddle stood and read from the defendant’s table, maintaining that he is innocent and that he should have not intervened when the victim came to him for counseling. He apologized for his poor judgment and not deferring to the counselors or the principal.
“Teaching and helping students is my passion,” said Clapsaddle. “It is also now my greatest mistake. I was only doing what I felt was right. I am not a criminal, I am just a humble citizen of this state. My goal was always to live a quiet, peaceful life, while trying to make a difference in my community. This is not who I am, this is not how I was raised. Your honor, you are sentencing an innocent man today.”
In addition to his prison sentence, Clapsaddle was fined $5,000 with court costs, while being classified as a Tier 3 Sex Offender. Upon his release, he will be subject mandatory to post-release control for 5 years, with the right to file an appeal.