Former Keller Independent School District band director Jedidiah William Maus has been charged with multiple felonies after officials alleged he exposed himself to many minors.
After first being arrested in October, Maus was indicted on March 31 on multiple felony counts related to indecency with a child.
The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office announced that a grand jury had indicted 36-year-old Maus on eight counts of indecency.
The former band director was first arrested last October 8, 2021, after reports surfaced from Keller ISD in September that Maus had allegedly exposed himself to a child the previous month. Three days after his arrest, Maus posted bond.
According to CBS News, before being arrested the first time, Maus worked as the band director for Bear Creek Intermediate and Keller Middle Schools.
Maus’ initial arrest came after the Keller Police Department and the school district began investigating the allegations. Police reported that one of the incidents had taken place on September 10. Maus was put on administrative leave four days later and denied access to school buildings.
In the arrest warrant, Maus was alleged to have entered a boy’s bathroom at Bear Creek Intermediate and exposed himself to a male student, NBC News reports.
According to NBC News, during the early stages of the school’s investigation, the principals of each school sent a joint note to parents to acknowledge the situation. In addition, they asked parents to check with their children to determine if they had any further information into Maus’ conduct. They also ensured counseling was available for students.
Three victims had been identified when the former band director was arrested. However, additional allegations were offered through a tip line established by the police, with apparent victims noting that the crimes dated as far back as the 2015-16 school year.
Some seventh and eighth-grade students at the middle school stated that Maus had also allegedly exposed himself to them in a student bathroom. The reported bathroom was located near the school’s band hall.
In January, Maus was arrested for a second time, with the Keller Police Department filing seventeen charges against the former educator. Keller Police Detective Bethany Todd led the investigation, with the community’s Chief of Police Brad Fortune praising her efforts earlier in March.
“Detective Todd spent countless hours interviewing witnesses and victims and corroborating evidence through video surveillance of KISD schools,” Fortune said, CBS News reported. “These investigations are difficult to work through and require the utmost professionalism, compassion, and empathy. Her skills have brought justice to the many victims and their families.”
At that time, the attorney for Maus, Jeffrey D. Boncek, offered a short statement, emphasizing his client’s cooperation.
“Please know that Mr. Maus and counsel have been cooperative with law enforcement throughout the investigation,” Boncek wrote, according to ABC News. “We think it would be best to respect the judicial process and decline a conversation with the media at this point.”
