BUCYRUS — A Crestline teacher appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court to be arraigned Monday.

Cory Forshaw, 49, a fourth-grade teacher at Crestline Exempted Village School District was indicted on one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony charge punishable by as many as 36 months in prison.

Forshaw appeared in court with his attorney, James Mayer of Mansfield. Forshaw pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to Crawford County Prosecutor Matt Crall, the alleged victim was a senior at Crestline High School and not one of Forshaw’s students. Even though the alleged victim was not Forshaw’s student, he was a student at the same school where Forshaw taught.

Crall said the allegations were very serious.

“Mr. Forshaw is in a position of authority and we take that very seriously.” Crall said.

Crall asked the court to set a bond of $100,000.

Mayer made arguments for a personal recognizance bond. Mayer told the court his client had never had a felony charge and no weapons were involved. He noted the alleged victim is an 18-year-old senior Forshaw met on a website.

“My client had no contact with this alleged victim in his professional capacity,” Mayer said. “He has lived in the Crestline area his whole life and has strong ties to the community. He appeared voluntarily on this summons and has had no contact with the alleged victim.”

Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold said it is a difficult case.

“We’ve had several cases of rape and pedophilia through this courtroom. This was not a rape case, this was consensual,” Leuthold said. “The alleged victim was still a student in the school where the defendant teaches and that makes this a crime.”

Leuthold conceded that Forshaw has no criminal record, but the charges involve crimes of a sexual nature.

“I must be focused on the student-teacher relationship and the fact that a teacher has authority over students,” Leuthold said. “There will be no personal recognizance bond. Bond will be set at $100,000. Take him into custody.”

Leuthold ordered Forshaw to have no contact with the alleged victim or any student at the school.