COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A former Franklin County middle school teacher who pleaded guilty to having sexual contact with an underage student is set to be sentenced Monday.
Online court records show Benjamin M. Rutan, 42, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a third-degree felony. One other unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and four sexual battery charges were dropped in exchange for the plea.
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According to Rutan’s plea agreement, he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison; however, the agreement calls for six years imprisonment, and he would have to register as a Tier II sex offender after serving a prison sentence. Rutan could also be fined up to $10,000.
Court records say the abuse began in 2013, when the student was 14 years old and Rutan was her language arts teacher, track and basketball …