By Dorothy Markulis
Hudson Hub-Times reporter
HUDSON -- A former Ravenna teacher has been indicted on nine counts of importuning for allegedly communicating sexual acts on the Internet with who he thought was a 12-year-old girl, according to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason.
Howard A. Kaplan, 57, was a teacher at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson when he was indicted. He has since resigned from the school. He also previously taught at Hudson High School.
Kaplan taught at Brown Junior High School in Ravenna in the early 1970s and at Ravenna High School in the early 1980s for a total of 13 years.
He was indicted after an investigation by the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Kaplan allegedly was engaged in computer conversations from May 10 to Aug. 21 with who he believed was a 12-year-old girl, but actually was a member of the task force, according to a press release issued by the prosecutor's office.
He was indicted this week on nine counts of importuning and one count of possession of criminal tools. The importuning charge refers to an adult soliciting sex from a minor using a computer.
Kaplan could not be reached for comment. According to Cuyahoga County Court records, no attorney for him is listed.
Russell Morrison, Western Reserve Academy spokesman, said Kaplan voluntarily left the academy after his arrest.
"He is no longer an employee," Morrison said.
According to Morrison, Kaplan, who lived with his wife in faculty housing on College Street, has vacated the campus house.
Kaplan taught at WRA from 1985 until 2002 and returned in 2006. Morrison said he could not comment on Kaplan's employment for years between 2002 and 2006. In 1999, Kaplan was awarded the Parents Chair for Distinguished Teaching after being appointed dean of faculty in 1994.
The prosecutor's office said Kaplan was arrested Aug. 23. Search warrants were executed at his home and office, which are both on campus.
"This indictment should remind all parents that there are predators online who have direct access to their children," Mason said.
Court officials said Kaplan is free on a $10,000 cash bond. His arraignment is set for Sept. 12 at the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
The Hudson Hub Times is a sister newspaper of the Record-Courier.