Trial for former teacher/coach ends in hung jury
The trial for a former Corydon Central High School teacher and coach ended in a hung jury Friday.
Michael T. Emmert, of New Albany, was indicted by a grand jury in September of 2020 on two counts of child seduction, a Level 5 felony, after he allegedly engaged in oral intercourse in a classroom with a female student who was at least 16 years old at the time sometime between Aug. 1, 2015, and Dec. 23, 2015
Emmert, who was placed on administrative leave prior to the grand jury’s indictment, was a social studies teacher, varsity assistant boys’ basketball and baseball coach at CCHS. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Initially, a jury trial was scheduled to begin last year on Feb. 16, 2021, but was rescheduled multiple times, for July 20, Nov. 16 and Dec. 14, then Jan. 18 and Feb. 15 of 2022.
The trial began last Tuesday with jury selection and included the victim and Emmert both taking the stand.
Announcement of a hung jury was made shortly before 9 p.m. Friday.
Harrison Superior Court Judge Joseph (Joe) Claypool ordered a mistrial, and a new jury trial is scheduled to begin April 19.
