FORMER ROANE TEACHER INDICTED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE

(06/10/2005)
A former Roane and Kanawha County teacher has been indicted for sexually assaulting a cheerleader while she was serving detention.

Thirty-eight-year-old Rodney Newhouse of Ripley was indicted by a Kanawha County grand jury yesterday on first-degree sexual abuse, sexual abuse by a guardian and attempted second-degree sexual assault charges.

Former Sissonville High School cheerleader Stevee Baldwin claims Newhouse made lewd and suggestive comments and touched her during the first two weeks of this past school year.

Baldwin and her parents have sued the Roane County school system, Sissonville High Principal Calvin McKinney and the Kanawha County Board of Education.

The family is seeking $18 million in damages.

The Kanawha County Board of Education fired Newhouse after hearing Baldwin's claims.

Newhouse worked in Roane County before working in Kanawha County.

The Baldwin family claims the Roane school system was negligent in dealing with Newhouse while he was their employee.