TOPEKA– KBI officials have arrested a Topeka man who taught at two Topeka Catholic schools for rape and sodomy of a former student he had in class in 2018 in Johnson City.
Agents arrested Brian Stuckenschmidt, 38, of Topeka, on Feb. 6 on a warrant for rape and aggravated criminal sodomy.
In May of 2023, the KBI initiated an investigation after a former student reported incidents that took place between January and May of 2018, when Stuckenschmidt was her music teacher at USD 452 in Johnson City, Kansas. Stuckenschmidt is currently employed at a Topeka school, but was placed on administrative leave in June 2023, when KBI agents brought the investigation to the attention of school officials.
Following the arrest, Stuckenschmidt was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.
The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas released a statement to a Topeka television station Tuesday saying Stuckenschmidt was immediately placed on administrative leave in June from his positions at Hayden High School and Holy Family School.
“We take matters of this nature seriously,” the archdiocese told the station, “prioritizing the safety and well-being of our community members.”
Stuckenschmidt was booked into Shawnee County Jail with bond set at $150,000. He bonded out of jail about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday eveing, the station said. The archdiocese said Stuckenschmidt had passed a background check. He has a court hearing date of 10 a.m. March 13.
The KBI said the investigation is ongoing.
Dane Hicks is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School at Quantico, VA. He is the author of novels "The Skinning Tree" and "A Whisper For Help." As publisher of the Anderson County Review in Garnett, KS., he is a recipient of the Kansas Press Association's Boyd Community Service Award as well as more than 60 awards for excellence in news, editorial and photography.
