Former Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools teacher pleads guilty

LAKE COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) - A former substitute teacher with the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools pleaded guilty in Lake County Court of Common Pleas Wednesday.

Michael Czubaj, 23, pled to the reduced charges of endangering children and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

Eastlake police had charged him with two counts of sexual battery in March.

According to police, Czubaj had sexual encounters with a 17-year-old girl between Oct. 2021 and Jan. 2022. Czubaj was 22 at the time of the encounters.

Eastlake police said they were made aware of the allegations between the student and teacher on March 22.

Eastlake police said Willoughby and Willoughby Hills police also worked on the investigation, because the alleged crimes were reported to Willoughby police and the alleged sexual encounters happened in Eastlake at North High School and in Willoughby at South High school.

Czubaj was also hired to assist with the drama productions at North High School and South High School, said Willoughby-Eastlake school officials.

School officials added Czubaj’s background was checked by the district and there was no prior criminal history.

Czubaj will be sentenced on Oct. 25 at 11 a.m.

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