High School Choir Teacher Offered To Buy Student’s Nude Photos, Arrested

A former high school choir teacher in Woodstock, Georgia, was arrested Saturday after being accused of sexually battering a student.

Ryan Parker McKendrick, 36, who resigned from his post as the director of the Woodstock High School chorus and orchestra on Oct. 15, was arrested Saturday and charged with sexual battery against a child under the age of 16, sexual assault while a teacher, attempted sexual exploitation of a child and tampering with evidence, as well as four counts of distributing obscene material, according to the arrest warrant obtained by Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

“The Cherokee County School District takes the safety and security of our students very seriously,” district spokeswoman Barbara Jacoby said. “After conducting an immediate investigation into allegations of inappropriate and unprofessional conduct, our CCSD School Police Department filed charges against the former teacher.”

“We want all students, parents and staff to know that inappropriate behavior by staff toward students will not be tolerated. We appreciate those who reported these allegations,” she added, encouraging students to always voice out such concerns against teachers.

McKendrick was accused of inappropriately touching a female student between the years of 2016 to spring 2018, when she attended his class during her freshman and sophomore years. In addition, he also showed a student the picture of a sexual act and offered in a “joking manner” to pay a student for taking nude photos of the student's friend in September. The age of the victims were not revealed.

According to Criminal Defense Lawyer, sexual battery was considered a “misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature,” and is punishable up to 12 years in prison and a fine of $5,000. If convicted, the person might also be mandated to register as a sex offender.

Cherokee sheriff’s spokesman said McKendrick was held in the county jail after being arrested before he posted a $34,306 bond.

Part of his bond dictated McKendrick be placed under house arrest and be banned from contacting anyone with the district or anyone under the age of 18. The only exception was his own children, with whom the court allowed visitations provided the minors are accompanied by another adult.

Earlier this month, two teachers from Georgia who were accused of sexually abusing and exploiting students were found dead.

On Oct. 17, Zachary Meadors, 28, accused of sexually abusing a student from Freedom Middle School, was found dead in a vehicle in the 1200 block of Scenic Highway, Gwinnett County, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

On Oct. 20, Troy Lawrence Palmer, a piano teacher in Roswell, Georgia, who was accused of molesting two children “multiple times between 2008 and 2012” was found dead in his Fulton County Jail cell. After investigation, his death was ruled a suicide.