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A former theater and choir director at a prominent Akron Catholic high school has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two students over the course of several years after the alleged victims compared their experiences and jointly came forward to report the abuse.
Chad Kendall, 37, is the Archbishop Hoban High School Teacher Who Pleaded Guilty to Sexual Battery of Students in Akron, Ohio, who entered his guilty plea on April 7, 2026, to six counts of sexual battery, a third-degree felony, in Summit County. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dismissed four additional counts of sexual battery. Kendall is required to register as a tier-three sex offender following his release from prison.
According to prosecutors, Kendall groomed and engaged in an unlawful sexual relationship with one alleged victim between 2022 and 2025, when the student was between 16 and 17 years old. He also began grooming a second, younger student during the same period using nearly identical tactics. The two alleged victims later connected, compared their experiences, and reported the abuse to the school together.
The factual information above was sourced from cleveland.com as of June 1, 2026. The attorney commentary below is not specifically about the case reported above. Attorney commentary provided is information about these types of cases in the justice system.
When a school employee is convicted of sexually abusing students, survivors and their families may have significant civil legal options beyond the criminal process. Legal Herald editor Paul Amess spoke with Ohio sexual abuse attorney John Bey, Esq., about the civil legal avenues that may be available to survivors in cases involving alleged sexual misconduct and grooming by a teacher or school staff member.
Paul Amess: John, when a teacher is convicted of sexually abusing students through grooming over an extended period, what civil legal options may be available to survivors and their families?
John Bey, Esq.: Cases involving grooming and prolonged sexual abuse by a school employee can give rise to serious civil claims that go well beyond the criminal process. Families may have grounds to pursue civil action not only against the individual convicted but potentially against the school or institution as well. Grooming by its nature unfolds over time, and that pattern raises important questions about whether supervisors or administrators had any opportunity to identify and respond to warning signs before the abuse progressed.
Paul Amess: In cases where multiple students were subjected to nearly identical grooming tactics by the same individual, does that strengthen potential civil claims against the school?
John Bey, Esq.: A pattern of similar conduct involving multiple students at the same institution is highly significant from a civil liability standpoint. It raises serious questions about institutional oversight — whether the school had adequate policies in place, whether staff were properly supervised, and whether any opportunities to intervene were missed. Families of each alleged victim may have independent civil claims worth exploring with an experienced attorney.
Paul Amess: What would you say to a survivor in Ohio who was groomed or sexually abused by a teacher and is considering their legal options?
John Bey, Esq.: Speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Time limits apply to civil claims in Ohio, and the earlier survivors seek legal guidance, the stronger their position. An initial consultation is completely confidential and free of charge — no survivor should have to navigate this process alone.
If you or someone you love has been sexually abused or groomed by a teacher, coach, or any school employee in Ohio, you may have the right to pursue civil action and recover financial compensation. Contact The Legal Herald today to be connected with an experienced Ohio sexual abuse attorney for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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