The former drum major and drum major instructor of the Ohio State University Marching Band was sentenced to three years in prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to sexual battery. Christopher Stewart Kitchen reportedly lured the student victim to his apartment by promising to help her get into the drum major training squad.
The Franklin County Prosecutor’s office issued the following statement:
Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “This former OSU band instructor will be required to register as a sex offender every 90 days for the rest of his life in connection to this case”. Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced that Christopher Stewart Kitchen, age 29, was sentenced to three years in prison today after previously pleading guilty to one count of Sexual Battery (F-3) in connection to the sexual assault of a 19 year old Ohio State University student that occurred on April 16, 2015. It is alleged that the defendant, who was an Ohio State University School of Music staff member, lured the victim to a meeting with him at a bar, with the promises of setting up practices over the summer in preparation for drum major try outs. He then sexually assaulted her after they went back to his house located at 2469 Indiana Avenue in the University District.
In court on Wednesday, the victim told the judge about the incident, according to the Columbus Dispatch:
“That night I laid there, frozen in fear and trauma, as my coach disobeyed my requests and raped me. I said ‘no.’ No means no. I said, ‘Take me home.’ That means take me home. I said, ‘I’m not comfortable with this.’ I said, ‘Do not have sex with me.'”
Kitchen may be eligible for release after serving six months and will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
