Indiana teacher faces 36 molestation charges; single victim

CORYDON, Ind. – A southern Indiana elementary school teacher faces three dozen counts of child molestation that occurred over a three-year period, authorities said Monday.

A not-guilty plea was entered on behalf of Corey Faith, 40, during an initial hearing in Harrison Superior Court. The Corydon man was being held at the Harrison County Jail on a $250,000 cash-only bond.

Faith admitted the incidents of molestation occurred from 2005 to 2007 in his home, his classroom at New Middletown Elementary School in Corydon and elsewhere, Harrison County Prosecutor Otto Schalk said.

A probable cause affidavit said the alleged victim was 12 years old when the molestations began. She had been a student of Faith’s when he taught sixth grade. He most recently taught third grade.

Court records said the investigation began March 19 when the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department received a tip from a friend of the alleged victim after she spoke of multiple sexual encounters with Faith when she was under 14 years old.

The South Harrison Community School Corp. delivered notice Monday of its intent to fire Faith. It issued a statement saying it was “deeply saddened to learn of the events and critical lapses” in judgment by Faith that occurred.

Online court records didn’t list an attorney for Faith.