Former Bishop Foley Tacher Charged with Additional Sex Crimes
By Frank DeFrank
A teacher already accused in Oakland County of engaging in sex acts with a student was charged Wednesday with four more offenses for similar behavior with the same boy in Macomb County. Kathryn Ronk, 28, a resident of Birmingham and a former Spanish teacher at Bishop Foley Catholic High School in Madison Heights, was arraigned on the additional charges in 41A District Court in Shelby Township. She stood mute to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and one count each of child sexual abuse activity and furnishing alcohol to a minor. The most serious of the offenses carries a maximum penalty of life in prison upon conviction. “Yes, sir,” Ronk replied to Magistrate Michael Osaer when he asked the defendant if she understood the charges against her. Neither Ronk nor her attorney, James Thomas, would comment following the brief hearing. Ronk is scheduled to return to 41A District Court for a preliminary examination at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 26. The charges on which Ronk was arraigned Wednesday stem from incidents at the Macomb Township home of the 15-year-old male student. She also faces charges in connection with another incident in a vehicle parked on a Sterling Heights street. She was scheduled for arraignment on those charges Wednesday afternoon. Ronk was previously charged with five counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in 43rd Distrrict Court in Madison Heights after she was accused of sex acts with the same student in a classroom at Bishop Foley. She posted bond in that case and was released. “I don’t believe she is a danger to the community or a risk of flight,” Thomas told Osaer. “My client has been very cooperative during the course of this investigation.” Citing the fact Ronk posted a substantial bond in the Madison Heights case, Osaer set a $100,000 personal bond for the defendant. That means she did not have to post any additional money to maintain her freedom. According to Macomb County authorities, Ronk began teaching at Bishop Foley in August 2013. She initiated contact with the boy in December and the sex acts began about a month later, authorities said. Contact: frank.defrank@macombdaily.com
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