OBSERVER Staff Report
SALAMANCA - A Dunkirk man who was suspended from his position as a school teacher in the Salamanca City School District for sexual abuse charges has resigned.
According to the Salamanca Press, the Salamanca School Board of Education held a special meeting on Wednesday to accept the resignation of Shane Riethmiller, 40, of Central Avenue from his position as a middle school science teacher.
On Jan. 6, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office charged Riethmiller with third-degree sexual abuse, disseminating indecent material to a child, promoting sexual performance by a child and endangering the welfare of a child.
The Sheriff's Office alleged Riethmiller had sexual contact with an underage female. Riethmiller was also charged with crimes from his activity with a cellular phone when he allegedly received nude photographs of an underage female as well as sending nude photographs of himself back to the child.
These incidents occurred in the city of Salamanca from September through November of 2011. The girl, who was then 15, sent explicit pictures via cell phone to Riethmiller on Sept. 30. Riethmiller and the female allegedly had sexual contact on Oct. 18. Sheriff Deputies allege that Riethmiller sent inappropriate photos of himself to the female via his cell phone on Nov. 26 and 27.
In July, Riethmiller pleaded not guilty in connect to an indictment handed up by the Cattaraugus County Grand Jury which charged him with eight counts of first degree disseminating indecent material to minors, one count of promoting a sexual performance by a child and one count of third degree sexual abuse.
Riethmiller had been on administrative leave with full pay by the Salamanca Board of Education since January. Last week, according to the Salamanca Press, the school board voted to have him return to the school to work solely in the district office.
Riethmiller was a tenured science teacher at Salamanca Middle School and also the coach of girls soccer and boys wrestling. Riethmiller was also previously a chemistry teacher at Fredonia Central School and the girls soccer coach.
