Court: Former St. Joseph teacher charged with sexual battery

CLEVELAND -- Former St. Joseph Academy drama and choir teacher Patrick Janson was charged in Cleveland Municipal Court this morning with sexual battery. His bond was set at $150,000 and he was required to surrender his passport.

The prosecutor said in court Thursday morning that three victims have been identified.

Janson, 42, of North Olmsted, has been on administrative leave since Sept. 26 when the allegations of sexual battery with a former student first surfaced.

SJA officials fired him Wednesday after the Cleveland police sex crimes unit arrested Janson on a warrant.

Another teacher resigned Sept. 26 for failing to report the information to officials, as required by school rules.

The sex crimes unit had been investigating a report of an illicit relationship between a teacher and one or more current or former students at the school, police Lt. Tom Stacho said.

Janson has taught at the all-girls Catholic high school on Cleveland's West Side for the past 12 years. He is originally from South Euclid and graduated from University School in 1985, records indicate.

Until 1998, he and his wife both taught at US and she is also a teacher at St. Joseph Academy. They have two children.

"We are asking for the public's help in identifying and contacting any young ladies who may have had an improper relationship with a teacher at St. Joseph Academy," said Lt. Michael Baumiller, head of Cleveland's sex crimes unit.

Below is a statement released Wednesday from St. Joseph Academy President Mary Ann Corrigan-Davis:

"Everyone at Saint Joseph Academy was saddened by the news today that Mr. Patrick Janson, a former teacher at Saint Joseph Academy , was arrested and charged with a crime because of a sexual relationship with a former student who graduated from Saint Joseph Academy some time ago.

As soon as we had information about these allegations, we contacted the police and placed him on leave.

He was instructed not to have contact with any members of the Saint Joseph Academy community. We terminated his employment today.

We are grateful to the Cleveland Police for their handling of this case. As soon as we notified them of the allegations, they made this case a top priority.

Their behavior and approach with members of this community have been very professional and caring, making it easier for everyone here to get through this very difficult time.

This is devastating to everyone at Saint Joseph Academy. Every adult connected with our school has a responsibility to nurture and protect our students so they can reach their greatest potential.

We are simply aghast that someone on our faculty apparently did harm to them.

We are proud of the young women who cooperated with this investigation and provided the information that led to his arrest. We know how traumatic that can be and, as a community, we are all praying for them and will offer them whatever support we can.

Saint Joseph Academy is a very special place and we cannot let the deeds of one individual -- however contemptible -- overshadow the good of so many."

Corrigan-Davis is a 1971 St. Joseph Academy graduate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit at (216) 623-5630.