A former Hawken School employee has been accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a student during his tenure at the institution in 2023.
Devin A. Hernandez, 30, of Mayfield Heights, has been charged with one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony. Court records indicate he was arraigned in Chardon Municipal Court on Tuesday and subsequently released on a $20,000 bond.
According to investigators, Hernandez allegedly “engaged in sexual conduct with a 17-year-old student from March 1, 2023, until at least May 31, 2023,” at Hawken Upper School, where he served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Currently employed at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School (NDCL) in Chardon, Hernandez was hired as the Associate Athletic Director for Sports Performance in August 2023, following his two-year tenure at Hawken School.
In response to the allegations, NDCL officials issued a statement to parents emphasizing that none of the allegations involve anyone in the NDCL community:
“Dear Notre Dame Schools Community,
We want to inform you of an incident that occurred at NDCL today. At the end of the workday, local law enforcement arrested one of our employees, and a criminal investigation is underway.
The employee was immediately placed on administrative leave and will not be permitted on our campus.
We want to clarify that none of the allegations involve any students, staff, or families from Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin. We understand that you may be concerned, but at this time, that is all the available information.
Please get in touch with the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office with any questions.”
“Before hiring him, the employee passed all background checks and had no criminal history,” Dr. Jacqueline Hoynes, President of Notre Dame Schools, stated in an email to reporters on Tuesday. “Once we became aware, the employee was placed on leave and will not be permitted back on campus under any circumstances. We are committed to providing a safe environment for all of our students and staff and encourage everyone to please speak up if they are concerned about their safety or the safety of anyone in our community. As this is a criminal matter, we cannot provide further details at this time.”
A representative from Hawken School declined to comment, citing the ongoing legal proceedings, but did provide an email sent to parents regarding the situation:
“Dear Hawken Community,
We write to let you know that last night, Monday, March 31, 2025, Hawken School was notified by law enforcement that a former Upper School employee, Devin Hernandez, who worked for Hawken from July 7, 2021 to August 11, 2023, was arrested earlier in the day because of alleged inappropriate conduct with a former high school student. We have been informed that some of the alleged inappropriate conduct occurred during his employment at Hawken.
Like everyone working at our school, Mr. Hernandez underwent a thorough background and reference check, and these background checks did not reveal any issues. The charges against Mr. Hernandez are as shocking as they are concerning.
The safety, well-being, and trust of our school community are of the utmost importance. We are actively addressing this matter and taking all necessary measures to support the investigation. For those who may need additional support, our school psychologists will be available to assist anyone who wishes to process this information. If you have any information related to this matter, we encourage you to contact the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office.
As we learn more about this situation, we will share additional information as we are able.”
Hernandez is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on April 8.