High school choir teacher charged with 9 counts of criminal sexual assault of student

A former high school choir teacher in Aurora, Illinois, was charged with having sexual contact with a 17-year-old student. According to the Chicago Tribune, Nathan Bramstedt appeared before a judge Saturday and had bail set to $500,000.

Bramstedt, 42, was taken into custody Friday afternoon and charged with nine counts of criminal sexual assault — position of trust/authority and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse — position of trust/authority, the Tribune said.

The alleged sexual assault was revealed when the 17 year-old student reported the crime to the authorities last year. Bramstedt is accused of sexually assaulting the student on multiple occasions and at several locations at Metea Valley High School, where he taught from February to June 2019, according to the statement.

This news comes amid other cases of child sexual abuse gaining national media attention. A California charter school teacher was charged with 29 counts of lewd acts with children, including students. According to KTVU, 35-year-old Anessa Paige Gower was taken into custody by the Richmond Police Department upon returning to California from Hawaii on April 6.

Her victims were seven boys, ages 15 to 16, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office says. Since they are minors, their names are being withheld. According to Paul Graves, the Contra Costa County deputy district attorney, the charges against Gower are "sex-related, some social media communications related, and inappropriate contact with minors."