ROACHDALE —
Arrest warrants have been issued for three current and/or former North Putnam High School staff members — including a band director — who are wanted on charges of child seduction, a class-D felony.
Indiana State Police conducted the investigation.
The alleged incidents involved a teenage male who attended the school, according to a probable cause affidavit out of Putnam Circuit Court.
The warrants were issued this afternoon for:
• Craig E. Rogers, 24, of Indianapolis. He has been on administrative leave as a band teacher at North Putnam High School;
• Nicholas A. Vester, 24, of Lafayette, formerly a substitute Spanish teacher at the school; and
• Brandon D. Largent, 20, of Crawfordsville, a former lifeguard and volunteer swim instructor at the school.
The alleged incidents occurred both in and out of school between October and January.
The Tribune-Star has obtained a copy of the probable cause affidavit, which reflected testimony by Indiana State Police Detective Jason Callaway, who spoke about the investigation.
Callaway stated that Largent said he texted and exchanged pictures via cell phone with the minor. He admitted to a kiss with the student while in school.
Rogers said he and the student sent texts to each other, according to the court document, and he kissed and hugged the student three times in school. Rogers was placed on administrative suspension by the school district in January.
Vester said he communicated with the student through cell phone, including text and pictures. The court document stated that in November, Vester met the student in Tippecanoe County and drove the student to a parking lot, where they kissed and engaged in sex acts.
Also, in December, after a ballgame at North Putnam High School, he and the student left school and drove away, pulled off the road, and engaged in sex acts, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Court records show that Vester also said he and the student kissed and touched 10 or 15 times while in school, and that Vester and Rogers had discussed the student.
See Wednesday’s Tribune-Star and www.tribstar.com for more details.
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Warrants issued following police investigation of North Putnam High School employees
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