Former Zanesville preschool employee gets 28 years for raping three children

PUBLISHED: 

A former preschool employee in Zanesville was sentenced to more than 20 years in jail for raping three students between the ages of 7 and 9, according to the Zanesville Times Recorder.

Derek Shaffer will serve at least 22 years and up to 28 years in jail.

Earlier this summer, the Zanesville Police Department says it received a complaint in reference to a possible sexual assault involving a minor. The complaint alleged that Shaffer had sexually assaulted a child at the Careytown School, located on Pershing Rd.

Police say they informed the school about the investigation on June 10 but say Shaffer was still allowed to teach at the school and have access to children.

After an investigation, the case was presented to the Muskingum County Prosecutor Michael Haddox and rape charges were filed against Shaffer.

The Zanesville Times Recorder reports Shaffer will provide the state with the names of all of the children he raped. Those families have been notified. It was part of the plea deal for Shaffer to avoid serving life in prison.