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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA former special education teacher with Indianapolis Public Schools was indicted on nine criminal charges tied to reports of physical abuse against students with disabilities at Washington Irving Neighborhood School 14.
The teacher is accused of making unlawful physical contact with three students who were under his care in the fall of 2025, according to a press release Tuesday from attorneys representing families of the students.
Hunter Sesemann has been charged with three felony counts of battery against a disabled person, three felony counts of battery on a person less than 14 years old and three misdemeanor counts of battery, according to MyCase.
His attorney did not immediately respond to The Indiana Lawyer’s request for comment.
The indictment was filed on Monday. It comes less than a month after another former IPS teacher was sentenced to two years in prison for orchestrating a “fight club” atmosphere in his classroom at IPS George Washington Carver School 87. Some of the fights occurred among young, special needs children in the classroom.
Attorneys representing the families of the three students in Sesemann’s case said they also plan to file civil charges against him, school officials and any other officials who are responsible for overseeing operations at the school.
“Criminal charges are an important step toward accountability, but they do not resolve the broader questions about how these children were treated or whether those responsible for their safety took appropriate action,” attorney Catherine Michael with Connell Michael LLP said in the press release. “Our clients and their families deserve answers about what happened inside that IPS school, what school officials knew, and what could have been done to prevent the harm.”
IPS spokesman Marc Ransford said the district removed Sesemann from the classroom as soon as officials became aware of allegations about his interaction with students. They also notified IPS Police and the state Department of Child Services.
He said IPS employed Sesemann for a couple years, from July, 2023, to November, 2025. Ransford declined further comment, noting that the case involves possible litigation and student privacy.
The criminal case is State of Indiana v. Hunter Sesemann, 49D18-2610-F6-031670.
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