Bauer report outlines numerous allegations

MONROEVILLE — Beyond being charged with rape, an embattled Monroeville Schools teacher faces numerous other accusations involving an underage student. A report, totaling nearly 500 pages, attempts to outline all allegations, chronicle the overall incident's timeline and provide clarity into exactly what happened between Holly Bauer and a minor-aged boy she taught, according to documents the Register obtained through a public records request. On Nov. 7, 2024, the district received a formal complaint alleging Bauer, 42, of Monroeville, sexually assaulted and harassed the boy in question. Since then, the Huron County Sheriff's Office conducted its own investigation. It concluded on March 7 with authorities arresting and booking Bauer into the Huron County Jail. One week later, on March 14, a Huron County grand jury indicted Bauer on the following charges: • Five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, each a third-degree felony • Four counts of sexual battery, each a third-degree felony • Three counts of rape, each a first-degree felony • Two counts of failure to comply with underage alcohol laws, each a first-degree misdemeanor • One count of burglary, a second-degree felony • One count of trespass, a fourth-degree felony Bauer remains on unpaid leave from the school and is out of jail on a $100,000 bond. Insight into the investigation Huron County sheriff's office report, which the Register also obtained through a public records request, didn't provide many details related to Bauer's alleged transgressions with the boy. But the investigation ordered by Monroeville Schools did. District officials hired Kelly Liberti, who previously served as an FBI special agent for 23 years, to oversee the school's investigative process. With the bureau, she specialized in complex investigations and trauma-informed interviews of children and adults. Liberti didn't provide recommendations regarding whether Bauer should face criminal action or retain her teaching job. Rather she sought to gain a full understanding of the allegations. She did this by interviewing more than 30 people, ranging from Bauer, the boy, Bauer's husband, school employees, community members, students and others. Liberti also provided supporting documentation, whenever possible, to help back up claims made, such as text messages. They ended up exchanging hundreds of text messages. The investigation largely centered on the allegation of Bauer having sex with the boy on a regular basis for more than a year, likely between 2022 and 2023. Their relationship, however, began in 2021, coinciding with Bauer's first year as a district teacher. This also is when the boy was in middle school. It also looked into other claims between Bauer and the boy. They include her allegedly providing the boy with alcohol, showing favoritism toward him and engaging together on social media. She also supposedly let him drive a car without a permit or license. "The allegations describe incidents that occurred in the junior high school, which is under the district's substantial control, and incidents that occurred at the respondent's residence," according to Liberti's investigation. She often refers to Bauer as the respondent. Liberti's investigation strived to "determine whether the complainant's allegations could be substantiated," she wrote. She often refers to the boy as the complainant. Hearing from the boy The investigation began in early November 2024 after the boy confided to his school counselor. He and Bauer "did have a sexual relationship," the boy told the counselor as outlined in this investigation. Here's a sampling of what the boy told Liberti and others in the investigation with all details considered allegations: • The boy became friends with one of Bauer's sons and began spending a considerable amount of time at their home. Bauer "always wanted" the boy to come over. Within the first couple of weeks, he began going to the home, Bauer asked him if he was a virgin. The boy described it as "really uncomfortable." • Bauer and the boy ended up exchanging information, such as phone numbers and their Snapchat usernames. Bauer would end up texting the boy regularly, nearly every day, during this period. • Bauer would often buy the boy clothing items. This would include a speedo from Amazon. "The speedo had the word 'delicious' across the front and 'nothing tastes better' across the back. He wore it on vacation with the Bauer family and at their pool." The boy went on vacation with the Bauer family to Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Disney World in Florida. A photo taken by Bauer of him wearing the speedo was included in the investigation. • Bauer shared personal family secrets with the boy. • Bauer "had joked a couple of times that, 'People are going to think we're having sex' because of the amount of time they spent together." • In January 2022, the boy described his first sexual encounter with Bauer, noting, "He did not know what to do," and "was scared." It started when "Holly grabbed his arm and pulled him into the bedroom." • After their second sexual encounter, which occurred a couple of weeks later, the boy "told her he did not like it and that it made him uncomfortable. She told him she would respect his feelings, and they could stop, however, it did not stop and was 'the same thing every time.'" • The boy believed he and Bauer had sex about 20 times with nearly every instance occurring in her home. One time it happened in her car on Huber Road by a radio tower. • Bauer told the boy "He could not tell anybody about the sexual part of their relationship" and how, "It would be bad if it got out because she would go to jail for a long, long time and lose her job." • The boy noted Bauer often supplied alcohol to children staying at her house. • In a text message to the boy, Bauer said he's her "best friend" and how "important" he is to her. • In another text message to the boy, Bauer wrote, "I would literally do anything for you. That('s) when I was told it was my job or you. I chose you." • When the boy brought up a girl at school, Bauer became very angry and screamed at him. • On Sept. 9, 2023, when the boy didn't want to see or talk with Bauer anymore, she called him more than 40 times, entered his home and began crying outside his bedroom door. When the boy's mother learned about this, she told Bauer to leave. • In 2022, the boy's parents told a school administrator they didn't have any issues with Bauer. • Later on, Liberti spoke with the victim's parents, mainly to get clarification on statements made by other interview subjects. The parents didn't provide opinions one way or another on this situation as outlined in these reports. The mother did claim she "was the last to know" about all of these allegations. • On Sept. 26, 2024, Bauer supposedly called the boy a "fat (explicative)," which prompted him to let others know what happened. The boy "said he was not going to cover up for Holly any longer and said, "You know all that stuff that happened two years ago? It did happen.'" Hearing from others Many other people with knowledge of their relationship took part in this investigation. Here's a sampling of what some of them said: • One parent said her son "was very uncomfortable" with how the boy and Bauer acted around each other at school. During Monroeville's annual 5K event on April 30, 2022, the race went by her home, and her son saw Bauer and the boy walking together and alone with no other participant around. • Another parent said her daughter "was uncomfortable" around Bauer and the boy. The girl said the boy "played with Holly's hair and rubbed Holly's shoulders, took naps under Holly's desk and said they were very 'touchy-feely' with each other." • A former school employee said Bauer and the boy "seemed to always be around each other and did not have a regular student-teacher relationship," adding how "that the two often randomly touched each other." • In 2022, a student took a picture of the boy resting his head on Bauer's head while in a classroom. In an interview with the investigator, James Kaczor, principal of the middle and high schools said, "It was hard to believe anything inappropriate was happening as it was his job to look out for situations like that." Kaczor previously received information from other teachers and at least one parent about Bauer's inappropriate and unprofessional behavior. • In mid-2022, district superintendent Kristin Kaple-Jones learned about some of these allegations, which included finding out how the boy ran personal errands for Bauer, such as getting her coffee. • On June 1, 2022, Bauer received a written reprimand due to violating staff conduct. She violated a directive of not maintaining a "professional relationship" with the boy. This appears to be the only documented instance of discipline Bauer received involving her alleged inappropriate relationship with the student prior to being arrested and indicted. In an undated text message between the boy's mother and an unknown person included in this report, it appears one person in this conversation alludes to district officials covering up this issue, stating, "I cannot believe the school was aware of these accusations and have stayed silent the entire time." Bauer's written reprimand and many documented issues occurred within the 2021-22 school year. One local parent and former district teacher said, "Any teacher can be non-renewed for any reason in their first three years of teaching. (This person) was very surprised that Holly returned to the school after the 2021-22 school year and was not let go." Hearing from Bauer Throughout her interview with Liberti, Bauer either outright denied the accusations or downplayed any notions of unprofessional behavior on her part. Bauer refuted all claims of inappropriately touching the student, supplying minors with alcohol or communicating with him on social media. She did admit the boy went on vacation with her family after her written reprimand but that, "The school district did not get to determine who got to be friends with her children," she said. Bauer learned about the sexual allegations leveled against her in October 2024. Upon receiving a copy, "She had a panic attack." She remained adamant about never having "any type of physical relationship with" the boy. Bauer also said she never asked the boy about being a virgin. She denied exchanging phone numbers. She believes money could have been a motive for the boy. She recalled a story from a girl claiming the boy laughing about this situation and going to get rich off this. Bauer's husband corroborated his wife's accounts. Final takeaways Based on their statements, Liberti noted she found some inaccuracies in statements given by both the boy and Bauer. It appeared, at times, both provided misleading information. This largely focused on whether or not the two engaged in sex with the boy claiming it happened and Bauer explaining how and why it didn't. But Liberti came to a final conclusion in her report: "Independent statements from staff, students and parents corroborated information from (the boy), adding weight to (the boy's) credibility." It appears, however, the Huron County Sheriff's Office determined enough credibility existed from the boy and others supporting his claims to charge Bauer with her listed offenses, which were approved, by a grand jury. Liberti did highlight the number of text messages, roughly 1,500, shared between Bauer and the boy. "The volume of communication and the personal nature of the messages blurred the boundary between teacher and student," Liberti wrote. "Teachers are expected to maintain a professional distance. By discussing personal issues and treating the (boy) as a peer, (Bauer) created an impression of favoritism or inappropriate familiarity." She continued: "Such interactions can and did in this matter raise concerns among parents and school authorities about the appropriateness of (Bauer's) actions." There's one message in particular Liberti called attention to involving Bauer allegedly texting the boy on Sept. 9, 2023: "I know we are super close and when you pull away and change how to talk to me or what you share, it does sadden me." "The text messages sent this day were not traditional student-teacher conversations," Liberti wrote. Bauer remains on unpaid leave as the district considers the future of her employment with the school. Earlier this week, she submitted her resignation letter, but Monroeville school board members rejected this action without giving a specific reason at a public meeting. It's not clear how Bauer could be affected — if she were to resign as opposed to being fired — as it relates to her pension, teaching license or possible legal action. Huron County Common Pleas Court records show Bauer's next hearing, a pre-trail, is scheduled for 1 p.m. on April 29. Her trial, meanwhile, tentatively takes place on June 11.