Middle school teacher accused of attempted rape at upstate New York casino
New York Post
December 2, 2021
The alleged attack took place on Feb. 8 at the Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino
An upstate New York middle school teacher was accused of an attempted rape at a Niagara Falls casino, authorities said.
Brian H. Lasher, a longtime gym teacher at Starpoint Middle School in Lockport, was arraigned Monday on third-degree charges of attempted rape, criminal sex act and sex abuse, the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal reported.
The alleged attack took place on Feb. 8 at the Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino, a 604-room property where Lasher is accused of engaging in sex acts with another person without consent, according to a complaint obtained by the newspaper.
Lasher, 56, of Amherst, pleaded not guilty in Niagara Falls City Court before a judge who released him under the supervision of county probation officials, the Buffalo News reported.
The judge also issued an order of protection for the victim, according to the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal.
Lasher was later put on administrative leave by the Starpoint Central School District after education officials learned of his arrest and arraignment, WKBW reported.
“This information provided by law enforcement was the first time the district was advised of this matter,” Superintendent Sean Croft wrote to parents. “We have been informed the charges allege improper, unlawful conduct toward another adult individual.”
The allegations do not involve district students or staffers and didn’t occur on school property, Croft said.
Brian Lasher was a longtime gym teacher with the Starpoint Central School District
“The district will continue to make the safety of its students and staff its utmost priority,” the letter continued. “The district is not able to comment further at this time as it is a personnel matter.”
Attempts early Thursday to reach Lasher, a 32-year district vet, were unsuccessful. It’s unclear if he’s hired an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
A co-defendant in the case, John R. Scholl Jr., was charged with the same counts as Lasher late last month. He has also pleaded not guilty to the sex crime allegations, the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal reported.
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