Z-M teacher faces charges of indecency

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A Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School teacher faces misdemeanor charges following allegations that he exposed himself while driving alongside a busload of high school girls.

Goodhue County prosecutors charged Joseph Vernon Halvorson, 32, with two counts of indecent exposure and one count of disorderly conduct stemming from an April 22 incident.

Z-M Supt. Richard Meyerhofer said district officials are aware of the allegations and are “dealing with them internally.”

Meyerhofer said the charges are the only blemish on the first-year Spanish teacher’s otherwise spotless record at the school.

“We’ve never had any complaints or concerns about Mr. Halvorson or his job performance,” he said of the Rochester resident. “He’s been an outstanding educator for us.”

According to a complaint filed June 17, members of the the Cannon Falls High School softball team said they witnessed a man — later identified as Halvorson — drive up alongside the bus and expose his genitals.

A witness to the alleged incident said Halvorson was driving so close to the bus on Highway 52 “that she thought it might actually make contact with it,” according to the complaint.

According to reports, the incident brought some girls on the bus to tears. One of the girls said the incident made her feel “like she had been emotionally raped,” the complaint states.

Authorities contacted Halvorson using license plate information gleaned from passengers on the bus, which was headed to Rochester for games.

Witnesses also identified Halvorson through a photo lineup.

According to the complaint, Halvorson admitted that his car did match the one described to police, but he contended that he never exposed himself while traveling next to a school bus.

The Republican Eagle was unable to locate Halvorson’s phone number and reach him for comment.

If convicted on all counts, Halvorson could face a maximum penalty of 270 days in jail and a $3,000 fine.

Tags: news, zumbrota, teacher