WYOMING, Mich. — A former Godwin Heights Middle School band teacher is accused of sexually assaulting a student in 1996.
The Wyoming Department of Public Safety says a woman came forward in late 2021 and told investigators she had been sexually assaulted by a band teacher at Godwin Heights Middle School back in 1996.
The woman, who is an adult now, told police the sexual assaults happened over several months while she was in school and outside of school.
At that time, the Godwin Heights Middle School band teacher was Charles Elsenheimer.
Elsenheimer is now charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct.
The Children's Advocacy Center of Kent County said late reporting is not uncommon. Sarah Zuidema, the group's program director, said 75% of abuse victims wait a year or more to report their abuse and 50% of victims wait five or more years to report.
“For that victim to be able to tell their story – for them the be believed – is such a huge part of the healing process," she said. "Even if their case never goes to court, we see they’re processing through that trauma to be really impactful on their ability to move forward.”
