A New York public school board member was charged with multiple crimes, including sexual misconduct and raping a 16-year-old on a boat, numerous sources reported Wednesday.
Scott Wander, 46, was charged with third-degree rape, forcible touching, endangering the welfare of a child, sexual misconduct and unlawfully dealing with a child, according to WIVB. Wander is reportedly a member of the Holland Central School Board.
Holland School Board member arrested on rape charge involving 16-year-old victim https://t.co/96WkPAGBMs
— The Buffalo News (@TheBuffaloNews) May 12, 2021
The Holland Central School District is located in Holland, New York, roughly 30 miles southeast of Buffalo.
A State Police investigation that began April 22 allegedly found that Wander had forcibly touched and had sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old while on a boat outing at a lake in June 2020, according to WGRZ.
Wander was released following a virtual arraignment, according to WGRZ. The judge reportedly issued a full stay away order of protection, which restrains suspected abusers from all contact with alleged victims, including any kind of communication or physical contact.
Wander is scheduled to return to court in August.
Wander’s biography on the school’s website — which appears to have been scrubbed — reportedly said that he is married and has two children, according to Buffalo News.
When visiting the district’s site, a pop-up appears with the school leadership’s statement regarding “criminal allegations against a member of the Board of Education.”
“The District’s investigation into this matter is ongoing, but at this point, the District stresses there is no evidence any of the allegations involve any Holland Central School District student, nor any alleged act on Holland Central School District property,” the statement by school superintendent Cathy Fabiatos and board president Brian Jones.
“The District’s Resource Officer is aware of the allegations and the District will cooperate with law enforcement, if requested. Out of respect for the criminal investigation and process, the District will not provide any further statement.”
Numerous teachers and school staff members have been arrested in 2021 on sexual misconduct and rape charges.
A math teacher at a high school in Long Island was arrested in April on charges that she raped a 15-year-old male student. Days before the arrest, a former Texas public school teacher was arrested after being accused of having had a sexual relationship with a former student. The former student alledged that he and the teacher had sex not long after the boy turned 13. (RELATED: Police Arrest A Math Teacher As She Was Leaving Her High School For Allegedly Having Sex With A Male Student)