TRIAL SET FOR FORMER ROANE TEACHER - Student Sues School Boards For Damages

(07/06/2005)
A trial for thirty-eight-year-old Rodney Newhouse has been set in Kanawha County. The former Kanawha County and Roane County teacher is accused of sexually abusing a cheerleader while she was in detention hall.

Newhouse, a resident of Ripley, pleaded not guilty to first-degree sexual abuse, sexual abuse by a guardian and attempted second-degree sexual assault.

He was indicted last month by a Kanawha County grand jury.

The former band instructor at Sissonville High School posted a $50,000 bond.

His trial was scheduled for December.

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

Baldwin and her parents have also sued Newhouse, Sissonville High Principal Calvin McKinney, the Kanawha and Roane county boards of education and the state Board of Education.

Newhouse worked in Roane County before working in Kanawha County.