A former paraeducator in the Lawrence school district carried out an inappropriate relationship with a middle schooler, and in one instance touched the student against his will, court documents allege.

Caleb Rahmeier, 37, is charged with one count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and one count of contributing to a child’s misconduct.

He was arrested on Oct. 31, and a relative bonded him out of the Douglas County jail for $40,000.

Rahmeier was hired as a para at West Middle School in February 2019, according to the school district. Interrelated resource paraeducators, as Rahmeier was, work in classrooms to support special education students in their academics and assist those who require daily care with their health plans, according to a job description on the district’s website.

Probable cause affidavits are documents written by law enforcement officers to support charges in a case. The allegations they contain have not been proved in court. Detective Evan Curtis of the Lawrence Police Department wrote the affidavit in Rahmeier’s case.

According to the heavily redacted affidavit released by the court, a student who had attended West Middle School reported he and Rahmeier had been messaging on a private server on Discord, an online messaging platform often used by gamers, beginning in May 2022.

The student told Lawrence Police Department detectives that he and Rahmeier initially played video games together and talked via Discord.

But during the summer of 2023, Rahmeier allegedly helped the student sneak out from home late at night. The student said they took car rides approximately 25 times up until April or May 2024.

Rahmeier allegedly drove the student to his girlfriend’s residence or other locations to see friends. During one of those trips in July 2023, Rahmeier allegedly began touching the student’s thighs and asked him to remove his pants. The student told police he moved away from Rahmeier, refused and demanded to be taken home.

The student alleged that during a previous trip in June 2023, Rahmeier said he needed help installing a microwave at his residence, so he took him there around 3 a.m. The student said nothing sexual happened in Rahmeier’s home.

Additionally, the student recalled several times when Rahmeier made sexual comments and requests to him via Discord, and the student did not oblige. The student also said Rahmeier bought him video game currency as gifts.

The student’s parents told detectives they knew the student played video games with Rahmeier, according to the affidavit. The parents said they found it strange, but they assumed he was also playing with a group of students as Rahmeier was the Video Game Club adviser at West. They caught the student sneaking out of their house one time and grounded him, but they said they were unaware of Rahmeier’s involvement.

In December 2023, there was a surprise celebration at West where the Lawrence Schools Foundation presented Rahmeier with the annual Dedication to Education award and a $5,000 prize. Rahmeier transitioned from West to Free State High School in August 2024. The student made his report to police in September 2024.

In response to a request for comment on Rahmeier’s charges, district spokesperson Jake Potter shared past messaging from Julie Boyle, the former district spokesperson who retired in June. Potter said the district was unable to comment further because of personnel privacy rights.

In a Sept. 6, 2024 message to Free State staff and families, Boyle notified them of a safety concern a student reported “regarding the conduct of a Free State support staff member, who previously worked at West Middle School.” Boyle had said the staff member was immediately placed on leave, and based on findings from the ongoing police investigation, the district would take appropriate action.

Rahmeier was terminated a little more than six months later, effective May 20. As part of routine personnel recommendations, the school board gave final approval of the termination at a board meeting on May 27.

Rahmeier waived his right to an attorney and spoke with Lawrence Police Department detectives. In an interview with them, Rahmeier denied giving the student car rides or meeting at all outside of school functions, the affidavit alleged. He also denied gift-giving.

When presented with a Discord message where he told the student he loved him, Rahmeier allegedly told detectives he meant platonically. He eventually stopped the interview and requested a lawyer.

Legal representatives for Rahmeier had not responded to a request for comment by the time of publication Thursday.

Rahmeier’s next court hearing is a status conference set for Jan. 28 in the courtroom of Douglas County District Judge Amy Hanley.

Arrestees and defendants in criminal cases should be presumed not guilty unless they are convicted.

Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.

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