A Cincinnati assistant principal had inappropriate sexual contact with four more of his teen students, prosecutors allege.
New Aiken High School assistant principal Steven Barton, 43, was booked into the Hamilton County Justice center Aug. 28. He was indicted on five counts of sexual battery and one count of grooming.
He now faces eight additional sexual battery and grooming charges related to four more victims, according to Oct. 8 court records.
Barton repeatedly "accessed school records to determine which classes students were in before removing students from class and taking them to private locations," according to a release from the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office.
He has been "removed from duty and will have no contact with students while
the criminal and district investigations are underway," according to an Aug. 28 statement from Cincinnati Public Schools.
Long-time educator faces increased charges
Barton has worked with Cincinnati Public Schools for 10 years, according to his personnel file. He began as a teacher at Evanston Academy in August 2016.
He was suspended on Aug. 27 after a police report accused him of inappropriately touching a 16-year-old student with his hand. He was indicted on indicted on four additional felony sexual battery charges and a misdemeanor grooming charge on Sept. 5.
Separately, the prosecutor's office stated Barton faces eight total charges related to four new student victims. Two were 17 years old and two were 15. The sexual contact occurred from April 2025 through February 2026, records state.
"Barton took some students shopping, drove them to and from school, and sent them money through Cash App," the prosecutor's release stated.
Across both cases, Barton faces 11 felony counts of sexual battery and 3 misdemeanor counts of grooming.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Four new students identified as victims in Aiken principal case
