FORT WAYNE, Ind. ? A grade-school teacher has been charged with giving a student teacher an unidentified substance that caused her to fall unconscious for more than four hours and suffer hallucinations.
Ryan L. Miller, 28, of Shipshewana, is accused of telling the woman the sedative was part of a science-fair project.
He was charged last week with criminal recklessness and criminal confinement. He had been scheduled to appear in LaGrange County Circuit Court Monday but waived the hearing.
If convicted on both charges, Miller could face up to six years in prison and $20,000 in fines.
Miller's attorney, Frank Gray, declined to comment on the case Tuesday when reached by The Associated Press.
In March, Miller was a third-grade teacher at Meadowview Elementary School in Shipshewana, about 35 miles east of South Bend. He is accused of giving the woman the sedative and leading her to a classroom closet to lie down after it took effect, a probable-cause affidavit said.
The woman remained unconscious for more than four hours and was hospitalized with hallucinations for two days. When she awoke, her pants were unbuttoned and her zipper down, court records said.
State police could not determine what the drug was because it left the woman's body too quickly, detective Jeff Boyd said.
Erik Weber, a DeKalb County deputy prosecutor, was appointed special prosecutor because Miller is related to an employee in the LaGrange County Prosecutor's office. Weber filed the charges against Miller Sept. 29.
The Westview school district suspended Miller while it investigated the allegations, and Miller resigned April 4, Superintendent Randy Zimmerly said.
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