The man was detained on charges of sexual assault.
According to Ohio State Police, a 16-year-old girl was taking an online class when her stepfather raped her on camera.
The Ohio Virtual Academy social studies teacher and 39 of the teenager’s classmates saw the man approach her from behind, Berea police said in a news release.
A 52-year-old man in only his underwear was seen groping his stepdaughter around 10:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28, police said.
“The the teacher seeing this inappropriate behavior contacted our department … knowing that the student was visiting online here at her home in Berea and informed us of what she had seen,” Lt. Tom Walker told WOIO.
She also looked into the student’s file and learned the girl’s stepfather was a registered sex offender, police said. He was previously convicted of rape and gross sexual harassment of a 9-year-old girl.
The officer was able to review the video, and authorities said they obtained a warrant for the man’s arrest. He was arrested on charges of sexual assault.
McClatchy News is not naming the stepfather to protect the identity of the teenage girl.
Police said school officials informed the girl’s mother of the incident, and they reported that she “acted furiously, denying anything had happened before hanging up.”
According to WOIO, the man pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and posted a $50,000 bond.
“Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA) is aware of last week’s unfortunate incident, contacted parents immediately and continues to work closely with the appropriate authorities,” Superintendent Christine Stewart said in a statement to McClatchy News. “OHVA takes its obligations as a mandatory reporter seriously. We have offered and continue to offer access to licensed school counselors and the availability of third-party clinical staff through our partnership with Syntero.”