A Warren man who was the band director at Canfield High School resigned last week after being charged by Austintown police with two misdemeanor counts of gross sexual imposition following an incident June 18 at a township restaurant.

The Canfield Board of Education accepted the resignation of Michael L. Kelly, 51, of Warren, on Thursday. Without naming Kelly, Canfield Local School District Superintendent Joe Knoll issued a statement Friday that read:

“As a public employer, Canfield Local Schools must follow the appropriate procedures in the investigation of allegations of misconduct by a staff member. On June 30, 2022, the administration of the Canfield Local School District became aware that an accusation has been made against a staff member. The administration acted immediately to ensure that this individual had no further contact with students or the school. We are fully cooperating with local authorities and will assist in the investigation if called upon.”

Knoll said no further comment will be made on the advice of legal counsel.

According to an Austintown police report, the owner of a restaurant on New Road told police two of his servers, a 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy, were groped by a regular customer. The owner identified the person as Kelly, and the alleged incidents were caught on surveillance camera, the police report states.

Austintown police contacted Canfield police and he was picked up by Warren police on a warrant Thursday. He is free on bond while awaiting arraignment in Mahoning County Court in Austintown.

Knoll sent a letter to parents in the school district to let them know that the allegations do not involve any students and did not happen on school grounds.