Former Solon Band Director Sentenced For Gross Sexual Imposition

SOLON, OH — A former Solon band director was sentenced to prison Thursday after pleading guilty to gross sexual imposition, prosecutors said.

Edward Kline, 51, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court by Judge Timothy McCormick, WKYC reported.

As part of his agreement with prosecutors, Kline's teaching license was revoked and he is barred from contacting any of his victims, who ranged in age from 12 to 18. Kline will also be classified as a Tier I sex offender and will need to register with the state every year for 15 years, according to court documents.

Kline initially pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in late 2020, but changed his plea after striking a deal with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office.

Kline was accused of groping multiple students between 2004 and his resignation from the Solon Schools in 2018. According to a report filed with the Ohio Department of Education, Kline resigned from his position before he could be fired by the district.