Expanded Indictment Against School Administrator
A high school assistant principal in Ohio is facing a significantly increased number of criminal charges. Steve Barton, who served as an assistant principal at Aiken New Tech High School in Cincinnati, has been indicted on six counts of sexual battery and two counts of grooming. According to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, these new charges stem from allegations involving four additional students.
This development follows an initial indictment against the 43-year-old educator, which included five counts of sexual battery and one count of grooming related to a single 16-year-old student. The total number of charges has grown as investigators uncovered reports involving two 15-year-olds and two 17-year-olds.
Details of the Investigation
Authorities detailed a pattern of behavior in which Barton allegedly exploited his position to access private school data. Investigators claim he used this information to track students' class schedules so he could remove them from their lessons.
The prosecutor’s office further alleged that the administrator would transport students to “private locations” and accompany them on shopping trips. Additional evidence reportedly showed that Barton provided transportation for students to and from campus and sent them money via the CashApp platform.
Employment Status and Legal Proceedings
Following his initial indictment, Barton entered a plea of not guilty. Regarding his employment, the Cincinnati Public Schools district issued a statement clarifying his current status:
“Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent Shauna Murphy suspended Barton without pay, effective August 27, 2026. His termination is pending. He has not returned to Aiken High School or had access to students through his position since his arrest.”
School officials stated they are continuing to cooperate fully with law enforcement as the investigation remains active.