Macomb County Band Director Charged For Sex Crimes Against Kids

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — A former band director for Eisenhower High School in Shelby Township will go before a judge Thursday.

WXYZ identified him as Christopher Traskal and said he isscheduled to be arraigned Thursdayon one of the four counts against him. The criminal charges come after he was accused of inappropriate interactions with students earlier this fall.

New charges have now come up because on Nov. 1, more than a month after the first report, a second female student, age 17, came forward and made a report to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office. The female reported that she was a former student of the same teacher in 2009 and that he had made her uncomfortable with his behavior and made several inappropriate comments to her.

Police said the student was able to provide several pieces of documentation from these incidents and said that the teacher had touched her inappropriately on two occasions.

Both students stated that they had difficulty coming forward because of the teacher’s status within the school, police said.

“It is important that we teach our children to speak up when suspicious behavior is occurring," said Sheriff Anthony Wickersham. "This behavior can be inappropriate comments to something more serious such as unwanted touching. We want to stress that parents sit down with their children and not only talk about their day but the people that they come into contact with as well. Discuss the different trusted adults they can confide in which may include parents, a friend’s parents, school counselors and resource officers, and tip lines such as OK2Say, etc.”

Now the teacher faces charges out of two area courts, both sets felony charges: child sexually abusive activities and communicating with another to commit a crime in the Shelby court; two counts of fourth degree criminal sexual conduct in the Sterling Heights court.

The Utica Community Schools are aware of the incidents and the band director is no longer employed with the schools.

He is currently in the Macomb County Jail being held without bond.