Donald Shafer, Elkhart teacher facing child sex charges has initial court hearing 

On Wednesday, Feb. 11, a Goshen police officer caught Shafer in the backseat of a car with a minor at 3:06 a.m. After further questioning at the Goshen Police Department, the officer says Shafer admitted to performing a sex act on the minor.

Shafer faced the preliminary charges of:

• Child Seduction
• Sexual Misconduct with a Minor
• Child Solicitation
• Child Exploitation

ABC57 spoke with Benjamin Chacko, a former West Side Middle School teacher. Chacko says he quit due to alleged physical and mental abuse towards staff and students.

Chacko says when he learned about Shafer, who he "has known for about five years," he was disgusted, but not surprised.

"Highly inappropriate, disgusting and this is why teachers get quite a bad rap. I was always told from seasoned male teachers 'you have to watch your back. You have to play the system. It's going to be different for us because we're men,'" Chacko shared.

He continued, "I wondered why it has to be different? What if you're doing the right thing? iI you're treating people, well that should not matter and when I heard about Mr. Shafer, who I've known for about five years now, I can't say I was surprised."

Chacko suggests Shafer was one of four teachers who raised red flags for him. He says he became a teacher to advocate for children and that students felt safe enough to come to him after experiences with Shafer and others. He says they often wondering if certain behaviors were appropriate.

"I had both male and female students come to me talking about how teachers were mistreating them, giving them weird nicknames, weird pet names in class, touching them on the shoulders and on the chest, on the waist. It’s highly appropriate for teaching be touching a student in general for any reason at all.”

Though he's no longer teaching, Chacko says he's never stopped caring for his students.

"I am praying for you routinely every day. My kids are praying for you. My wife is praying for you. Just know that it'll be fine and don't be afraid to speak up about things that are uncomfortable. don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and for your friends if you see it."

After looking into his employment history and looking at what appears to be Shafer's LinkedIn, ABC57 has learned that Shafer taught in Michigan schools for years before coming to Indiana.

He allegedly taught at St. Augustine Cathedral School in Kalamazoo and possibly Harper Creek Middle School in Battle Creek. Shafer was a principal at St. Philip Catholic High School and then apparently went on to teach theology at St. Joseph Middle School in Battle Creek.

ABC57 News contacted these institutions and St. Augustine Cathedral School directed us to the Diocese of Kalamazoo.

We called and texted the Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Victoria Cessna.

We asked if any of the previously listed schools are launching investigations into Shafer's past employment. In response, she said "we will not be commenting on the current legal matters of a former employee."

When asked if there is any concern that Shafer may have acted inappropriately with students during his time at Battle Creek school, ABC57 received no response.

ABC57 News will continue to follow Shafer's case.