Medina firefighter facing more charges

Posted at: 08/29/2012 1:41 PM | Updated at: 08/29/2012 6:21 PM
By: Amanda Ciavarri | WHEC.com

News10NBC has learned a Medina firefighter who is also a substitute teacher is facing several felony charges, including promoting sexual performance of a child.

Jeffrey Elsenheimer, 31, is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old boy. He was charged Monday with criminal sex act and endangering the welfare of a child. More charges were filed Tuesday in connection to the allegations.

According to the court paper work, Elsenheimer met the victim through the teen’s ties to the Medina Fire Department. The paperwork says at one point, Elsenheimer had the teen take a naked picture of himself inside the bathroom at the fire hall.

Community members are shocked by the news that, Jeffrey Elsenheimer is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old boy. The Medina Fire Department confirms Elsenheimer has worked there for six years and is the department’s public information officer. News10NBC also learned that Elsenheimer was a substitute teacher for the Medina School District for a three year period that ended in the 2010-2011 school year.

Christa Penning, who grew up in Medina, said, “I think that's sick. I hope he loses his job all the way around. He shouldn't be around children and not teaching in the school.”

Elsenheimer is currently on paid leave from his position with the fire department and school district says they are talking to legal counsel about appropriate actions to take.

According to court paperwork, the teen boy and Elsenheimer met through the teen’s connection to the fire department. The teen told Medina Police after breaking up with his boyfriend two weeks ago, he texted Elsenheimer because, “I just wanted someone to talk to and maybe a friend with benefits.”

The two agreed to meet up at Elsenheimer’s home in Medina. The teen told police, “I had told Jeff Elsenheimer that I was sixteen years old, but was going to be seventeen soon. Jeff stated that for a while I was going to be jail bait.”

Police say the two did meet up, on Thursday, at Elsenheimer’s home and that’s where the sex acts took place. The teen told police that he knew Elsenheimer was interested in him for months. He also told police one time when they were both at the fire station, Elsenheimer told the boy to go into the bathroom and take a naked picture of himself using Elsenheimer’s phone.

The fire department had no comment about the teen’s connection to the fire department. Members of the community said this was an abuse of power.

Andrew Smith, who lives in Medina, said, “Everyone should knows it's against the law to engage in that with a minor. It doesn't matter who you are, you can't do it at all, and you are going to get caught eventually. I'm just glad justice is being done about it.”

Penning said, “It’s hard to know who to trust.”

According to News10NBC’s affiliate in Buffalo, WGRZ, Elsenheimer was also a dispatcher for The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and has since been let go. He is currently in the Orleans County Jail and is expected to be back in court on Friday. According to Medina Police, they are still investigating and say more charges are pending.
 

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