A South Toledo dance instructor entered a plea on Monday to sexually assaulting a teenage girl who took one of his classes at Start High School.
Jonte Williams, 32, of the 500 block of Durango Drive, entered an Alford plea — not admitting guilt — to two counts of endangering children, a misdemeanor offense. He was indicted by a Lucas County grand jury in November, 2019, with sexual battery, but those charges will be dismissed when he is sentenced on Sept. 13.
Mr. Williams faces a maximum of one year in jail.
Assistant county prosecutor Jennifer Lambdin said law enforcement and the victim’s family agreed to the plea deal.
Mr. Williams was assisting a dance instructor at Start High School and he taught a hip-hop class.
On Oct. 6, 2019, Mr. Williams contacted a dance student, a then 17-year-old girl, on social media and asked her to meet with him outside the school to discuss her future in dancing, Ms. Lambdin said.
Mr. Williams picked the victim up from her residence and took her to a parking lot where they smoked marijuana and had sex in his vehicle, according to the prosecutor.
On Oct. 8, 2019, the student again met Mr. Williams after school. They again smoked marijuana and had sex, Ms. Lambdin said.
First Published July 19, 2021, 5:35 p.m.
