While getting engaged is supposed to be a step in the right direction for couples who want to eternalize their love for one another, it can often be the kiss of death for many relationships.
In 2016, one Ohio couple decided to get married after being together for years. But when the bride-to-be was supposed to be planning the wedding of her dreams, she started having an affair, which was morally reprehensible and also illegal…
A 5-Year Relationship
For the past 5 years, 27-year-old Brooke Rosendale has been dating Sean Nagy, a machine operator. About 2 years into their relationship, Brooke was hired by Riverdale Local Schools after earning a degree in teaching and getting her teaching license.
A Big Step
Brooke and Sean quickly fell in love, and once it became clear that their relationship was getting serious, they started thinking about living together. Eventually, they found a place in Bloomdale, Ohio, which is about 2 hours outside of Columbus, Ohio, and took a major step forward in their relationship…
The Next Step
Over the next few years, the pair began building their life together. Throughout their entire relationship, they had both been committed to each other, but in July 2016, Sean thought it was about time they took another big step in their relationship.
The Proposal
After months of thinking about proposing to Brooke, Sean finally worked up the nerve to get down on 1 knee and ask his long-time girlfriend to marry him. In July 2017, Sean proposed to Brooke, and she happily accepted his proposal…
A Busy Schedule
By that point, Brooke had been working as a 5th-grade intervention specialist as well as a volleyball coach and basketball coach for Riverdale Local Schools. In addition to her busy schedule, Brooke was now also responsible for planning a wedding.
Save The Date
Soon after Brooke and Sean started planning their dream wedding together, they decided to set the date for November 4, 2018. Sean couldn’t wait until the day he would make Brooke his wife, but sadly Brooke wouldn’t be able to attend her own wedding…
Throwing Everything Away
In the midst of working full time as a special education teacher and a girls’ junior high sports coach and planning her dream wedding, Brooke did something that threatened everything she had ever worked for, including her job, her relationship, and her future.
The Affair
Despite being engaged to marry the man she had been in a loving relationship for the past 5 years, Brooke started having an affair in early 2018 when she should have been planning her upcoming wedding. Not only was the affair morally wrong, but it was also illegal…
Breaking The Law
For about a month between January 4, 2017, and February 3, 2017, 27-year-old Brooke Rosendale started having an inappropriate physical relationship with a 13-year-old female student at the school that she taught and coached for.
The Secret
Rosendale had planned on keeping her illegal betrayal a secret from her fiance, but she failed to keep it a secret for long. About 1 month later, the 13-year-old student’s parents suspected something had happened to their daughter since she wasn’t acting like herself…
The Truth Comes Out
After figuring out that Rosendale had sexually assaulted their teenage daughter, the furious parents immediately reported the assault to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office on March 12 and an investigation was opened on the engaged school teacher.
Rumors Spread Around The Community
Rosendale’s secret was out and it was only a matter of time before Sean found out. When the school was notified about the assault, they had no choice but to suspend Rosendale, who had been working for the district for 3 years by then and had a 1-year-contract for the 2016-2017 school year…
The Investigation
After opening up a criminal investigation, a team from the sheriff’s office found that the 13-year-old victim was not a student in one of Rosendale’s classes, but the 2 did know each other from other extracurricular school programs that they were both involved in.
The Rumors Are True
According to the investigation, Rosendale met up with the 13-year-old girl 3 times between January 4 and February 3 to sexually assault the girl. Investigators also determined that none of the inappropriate meetings took place on school property…
The Arrest
By the end of March 2017, Rosendale resigned from her teaching and coaching positions at the school. Shortly after, her plans of walking down the aisle were officially put on hold when police from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office arrested Rosendale.
The Charges
Police charged Rosendale with 3 counts of sexual battery, which is considered a 3rd-degree felony, for the 3 separate times she sexually assaulted the 13-year-old student. Not only did Rosendale throw away her career and her relationship, but she was now facing losing her freedom…
The Trial
In early 2018, Rosendale was forced to face what she had done to a young girl in court where details of the sexual assaults were shared with the judge and the entire courtroom. At one point, Rosendale wrote a letter to the court to try and minimize her punishment, which only backfired.
Passing The Blame
In the letter, Rosendale placed some of the blame on the student and didn’t take responsibility for what she had done, which made Hancock County Judge Reginald Routson question if the former teacher really understood what she had done to the minor…
The Sentencing
“You stepped across a line, a taboo that cannot be violated,” Judge Routson told Rosendale during the trial. “There cannot be any sort of relationships between teachers and students and you betrayed a very important trust.” Ultimately, Rosendale pleaded guilty to 1 count of sexual battery. The other 2 charges were dropped and she was sentenced to 3 years in prison.
Future Punishments
“I want to apologize to the family,” Rosendale said. “I know I hurt them and I apologize.” The 27-year-old relinquished her teaching certificate, and when she is released from prison, Rosendale will have to register as a Tier 3 sex offender and will never be allowed to work with children again. Judge Routson also ordered Rosendale to pay $225 in restitution to the victim’s family.
