CLEVELAND — WARNING: This story contains graphic details of a sexually violent nature. Reader discretion is advised.
A Cuyahoga County grand jury has indicted the former band director for the Solon City School District for alleged crimes against multiple young girls during his employment.
The indictment, signed Tuesday by Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O'Malley, charges 50-year-old Edward Kline with 17 felony counts of gross sexual imposition as well as a misdemeanor count of sexual imposition. He is accused of molesting nine girls over a span of more than a decade, including one girl as young as 12 years old.
The investigation into Kline's conduct first became known back in July after Solon police confirmed a "former employee" of the district had been accused of "inappropriate interactions" with students. The suspect was later revealed to be Kline after multiple girls came forward with their accusations in a Cleveland Jewish News article, and he was arrested last week.
The grandy jury indictment outlines the allegations against Kline in more detail, with the first reported sexual act taking place in August of 2003 and the last occurring in June of 2014. Most of the allegations involve Kline touching the breasts, buttocks, or inner thighs of the girls "by purposely compelling such person(s) to submit by force or threat of force." In addition, Kline is accused of forcing three of the young teens to touch his genitals, and is also alleged to have had sex with a girl under the age of 16.
Read the full indictment below:
3News has reach out to the Solon school district for comment. Back in July, administrators said they were taking the allegations "very seriously."
"The district always adheres to its legal and ethical responsibilities to fully investigate all allegations and report findings to the proper state and local authorities as appropriate," the statement read, in part.
Kline, who has not been employed by Solon schools since 2018, is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 14 in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. If convicted on all charges, he could face more than 20 years in prison & be classified as a "sexually violent predator."
The inquiry into Kline's alleged crimes remains ongoing. Anyone wishing to come forward is asked to Solon Det. Linda Castro (440-337-1460, lcastro@solonohio.org) or Det. Kristi Harvey (440-337-1463, kharvey@solonohio.org). The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center is also accepting calls on the matter, and their number is (216) 619-6192.
