Recent court filings reveal that a former teacher from Wisconsin faces serious allegations related to an illicit sexual relationship with a minor, said to have taken place several years back.
Rebecca Ryan, 43, was taken into custody on April 29 and is facing three counts of sexual assault by school staff. Each accusation carries a potential maximum sentence that could involve extended supervision for three years.
During an interrogation by Sergeant Schnese of the Appleton Police Department, it was noted that Ryan appeared anxious, exhibiting shallow breathing.
She is currently barred from contacting the alleged victim and any minors, as well as being restricted from any unsupervised interactions with children.
Ryan remains in custody at the Outagamie County Jail, with a bond set at $50,000.
The alleged victim, now 25, reported the matter to the police in March, claiming he suffered sexual abuse when he was a 17-year-old student at Appleton West High School.
According to the victim’s statement, the abusive incidents occurred during the first semester of his senior year, specifically between September 2017 and January 2018.
He specifies that it was Ryan who assaulted him. The victim alleges that their initial encounter happened in a car parked in the overflow lot of the school, followed by two more instances in different parking lots. Notably, the last recorded incident occurred before the victim turned 18.
In a recorded phone call, Appleton police reached out to Ryan. When asked if she was still teaching, she told the former student that she was no longer a teacher but was working as a nanny.
The victim attempted to discuss their experiences from high school with her. Ryan reportedly hesitated, saying, “I mean, I guess. It depends on what. I don’t know. Hmm. I can tell you about the general public.”
When the victim mentioned their sexual encounters, Ryan nervously laughed and denied the claims.
She then asked the victim to “hold the seconds,” and the call ended awkwardly after a few minutes of silence.
After the conversation, when the victim called back, it was directed to Ryan’s voicemail.
Sergeant Schnese reiterated his observations of Ryan’s anxious demeanor during the questioning.
Records indicate that Ryan was employed by the Appleton School District from August 29, 2016, until February 9, 2018. The district stated that during her tenure, there were no reported allegations of inappropriate conduct with students and expressed commitment to cooperate with the police regarding the ongoing investigation.
Ryan’s preliminary hearing is set for May 6.
