(KENDALLVILLE) - An East Noble High School teacher has been preliminarily charged with two counts of child seduction following allegations from two students, according to court documents.
Jesse Kimmel, 45, was preliminarily charged May 19 with Child Seduction of a 14- to 15-year-old, a Level 5 felony, and Child Seduction of a 16- to 17-year-old, a Level 6 felony.
According to court documents, Kendallville Police received a report April 16 alleging Kimmel had inappropriately touched multiple students.
A 14-year-old student told investigators during an April 17 interview that Kimmel made her feel "very uncomfortable." The student said Kimmel called her "hun," stood unusually close to her and found reasons to talk to her or be near her that went beyond normal teacher conduct.
The student described an incident she said occurred before spring break, around March 19 or 20. According to court documents, Kimmel told her, "Hey hun, you got dust on your butt" as she was returning to the classroom from the shop area.
The student told police she went to a room with a sink, got a wet paper towel and began cleaning herself. According to court documents, Kimmel followed her, took the towel and began "wiping my butt off for me." The student told investigators she was "shocked" and felt "very uncomfortable."
Police were notified April 26 of a second student, a 17-year-old girl, who alleged Kimmel began touching her inappropriately during the spring of 2025.
According to court documents, the student said the contact involved long, tight hugs during which Kimmel's hands "wouldn't be in the right spot." She alleged Kimmel placed his hands on her hips, buttocks and breasts and demonstrated how the hugs would end with him dragging his hands across her breasts.
The student also told investigators Kimmel kissed her twice on the cheek, called her "gorgeous" and "beautiful," and commented multiple times about the size of her breasts.
Investigators later interviewed Kimmel regarding the incident involving the 14-year-old student.
According to court documents, Kimmel told police he saw the student "trying to clean off some sawdust off of her, couldn't reach it," and said, "I asked if I could take the towel -- I had a towel in my hand and brushed her leg off, down towards her knee."
The charges are preliminary, and the case remains pending.