Former High School Teacher Accused Of Sex Abuse Found Dead

WAUPACA, WI — A former Nicolet High School teacher who was accused of sexually abusing multiple students in the 1980s was found dead in his Waupaca home just days after accusations came to light.

David Johnson taught math at Nicolet from 1958 to 1991 and led various student organizations. According to Waupaca police David R. Johnson, 81, killed himself in the garage of his home midday Wednesday.

According to a Journal Sentinel report earlier this week, Nicolet High School officials reached out to the the Glendale Police Department after the former student came forward to them about the alleged abuse. School officials were told by the police department that the alleged abuse was beyond the statute of limitations for prosecution.

The school hired a lawyer and conducted an independent investigation, and learned that Johnson sexually abused multiple students during that period.

Johnson Kept Teaching

A Journal Sentinel report looking in-depth at Johnson's conduct during that time revealed that the School Board allowed Johnson to continue teaching while supervised after the board learned of Johnson's "inappropriate interaction with students" and that "the interaction was sexual in nature" in 1983.

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