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Teacher accused of sexual assault in classroom

McNemar

PETERSBURG — A teacher is facing several felony charges and is accused of forcing a student to have a sexual relationship while at Petersburg High School in 2018.

Jonathan Michael McNemar, 27, of Petersburg, is facing two counts of sexual assault in the second degree, soliciting a minor via computer, distribution and display of obscene matter to a minor and sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or person in a position of trust to a child, all felonies.

McNemar is being held at the Potomac Highlands Regional on a $115,000 cash/surety bond.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Grant County Magistrate Court by Deputy Sheriff S.D. Mallow, on July 26, officers spoke to a 19-year-old female at the Grant County Annex concerning an alleged sexual assault that occurred between April and June of 2018.

“While speaking to the female student, she described an incident which occurred between April and June of 2018 at Petersburg High School,” the complaint states. “This reocurring incident began as the female student’s 11th grade social studies teacher, Jonathan Michael McNemar, wanted to speak to her about rumors going around the school about her and him, privately in his classroom closet to ‘hug it out’ where no one could see them They went into the closet and (the student) reached for a hug, McNemar hugged her from the side and squeezed her buttocks without consent, she immediately left the classroom.”

According to the complaint, after the incident McNemar began soliciting her to send him sexually explicit images and videos of herself. The female allegedly sent the photos to McNemar via private messages.

“In an effort to avoid detection, McNemar directed the female student to create fake Facebook accounts for them to communicate,” the complaint sates. “McNemar established secret Facebook accounts. McNemar and the female student used these accounts to exchange sexual favors, nude pictures and obscene sexual videos.”

According to the complaint, in April 2018, during McNemar’s instruction time with students, including the victim, he initiated a written sexual dialogue asking the student her sexual limitations. The dialogue was provided to officers, the complaint states.

“Towards the end of the school year, McNemar solicited the female student to his classroom, while school was still in session, to engage in oral sex on him via Facebook Messenger,” it states in the complaint. “Prior to the oral sex taking place, McNemar squeezed the female student’s breasts with his hand. The oral sex escalated to (intercourse) after she verbally expressed ‘no’ and ‘stop’ multiple times.”

According to the complaint, approximately one week later, McNemar solicited the female student, again, to his classroom where they again engaged in oral sex which again escalated to intercourse..

The complaint states the victim maintained possesion of the dress she was wearing during that incident and provided it to law enforcement. Officers secured the dress for further evidence processing.

The complaint states that on July 17, officers conducted a digital forensic examination of the victim’s cell phone.

“This examination revealed Facebook message conversations between the female student’s Facebook account and Jonathan McNemar’s Facebook account,” the complaint states. “A review of these messages lead investigators to believe McNemar is concerned with losing his job or being arrested due to the above described sexual relations/intercourse with the female student.”

The complaint states that, according to details provided by the victim, the incidents occurred at Petersburg High School. During the investigation officers confirmed that McNemar was employed as an 11th grade social studies teacher and the victim was attending his class at the time the events allegedly took place.

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