MCCORDSVILLE — The McCordsville man recently accused of sexual assault was a teacher at a Mt. Vernon Schools elementary school, district officials have confirmed.
Lawrence Horstman, 41, was arrested on July 25 after local prosecutors filed three felony charges – including rape and criminal confinement – against him amid allegations he’d harmed a woman, court documents state.
Horstman was a teacher at McCordsville Elementary School at the time of his arrest last week; but he was placed on paid leave when police brought the criminal case to the district’s attention, said Maria Bond, a spokeswoman for Mt. Vernon Schools.
Horstman will remain on leave, pending investigation, Bond said.
Horstman most recently taught fifth grade at McCordsville Elementary School. He’d previously taught third grade in the same building.
A new teacher has been appointed to take over his classes, Bond said. The parents and guardians of his students have been alerted to the situation.
Investigators say a woman came to the McCordsville Police Department last week to report she’d been abused by Horstman, records show.
She said she was at Horstman’s home recently when he began to physically and verbally abuse her, court documents state. The abuse eventually became sexual in nature, when Horstman forced himself on her, the woman said, according to court documents.
The charges Horstman faces are: one Level 3 felony count of rape; one Level 6 felony count of criminal confinement; and one Level 6 felony count of domestic battery in the presence of a child.
He has pleaded not guilty to the allegations and was released from jail on $10,000 cash bond, records show. He’s been ordered not to have any contact with the alleged victim. He’ll appear in court again in October.
Mt. Vernon placed Horstman on leave soon after learning about his arrest, and took quick steps to replace him, ensuring the students who headed back to class Tuesday – barely a week after Horstman’s arrest – were not affected, Bond said.
“Mt. Vernon will continue to stay committed to provide academic excellence for all Mt. Vernon students and will ensure this does not alter an optimal learning environment for all students,” she wrote in a statement to the Daily Reporter.
Bond declined to comment further, citing legal limitations on discussing personnel matters.
Horstman has worked for Mt. Vernon Schools for at least a decade: a July 2017 district newsletter, posted on the district’s website, lists Horstman among a group of teachers celebrating the end of their 10th school year with Mt. Vernon.