Former Oswego Teacher Accused of Battery, Lawsuit Claims

Police received at least two battery reports against Sean Staffeldt, who is now the subject of a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and grooming of students.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Oswego police have confirmed they received at least two reports of battery allegations against former Oswego High School teacher and coach Sean Staffeldt in 2020. This comes as four former students have filed a lawsuit against Staffeldt and Oswego Community Unit School District 308, claiming Staffeldt engaged in a pattern of grooming, inappropriate physical contact, sexually explicit comments, and boundary violations targeting female students, which the district failed to stop despite multiple reports over several years.

Why it matters

The allegations against Staffeldt and the school district's handling of the situation raise concerns about student safety and the need for stronger policies and procedures to address teacher misconduct in schools. The case highlights the importance of taking reports of inappropriate behavior seriously and providing adequate support for victims.

The details

According to police reports obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, Oswego police received two battery reports naming Staffeldt in 2020. The first report was filed on January 27, 2020, about an incident that allegedly occurred between August 15, 2019, and January 25, 2020, where a 17-year-old student reported feeling uncomfortable with a teacher at Oswego High School. The second report was filed on June 15, 2020, about an incident that allegedly occurred on November 9, 2019, at Oswego High School, where the appropriate charge was determined to be battery. However, the specific details of the allegations were redacted from the police reports, and Staffeldt was ultimately not charged.

  • The first battery report was filed on January 27, 2020, about an incident that allegedly occurred between August 15, 2019, and January 25, 2020.
  • The second battery report was filed on June 15, 2020, about an incident that allegedly occurred on November 9, 2019.

The players

Sean Staffeldt

A former teacher and coach at Oswego High School who is the subject of a lawsuit alleging he engaged in a pattern of grooming, inappropriate physical contact, sexually explicit comments, and boundary violations targeting female students.

Oswego Community Unit School District 308

The school district that is named in the lawsuit, which alleges it was aware of Staffeldt's conduct but failed to stop it despite multiple reports over several years.

Disparti Law Group

The Chicago law firm that filed the lawsuit on behalf of four former Oswego High School students against Staffeldt and the school district.

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What they’re saying

“I spoke with the School Resource Officer ... and advised him that we would not be seeking charges and this case would be closed at this time.”

— Detective Terry Guisti (Police report)

“Upon completion of the interview, it was decided that the appropriate charge would be battery.”

— Detective Bryan Cummings (Police report)

What’s next

The lawsuit against District 308 is ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether any criminal charges will be filed against Staffeldt.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for schools to have robust policies and procedures in place to address allegations of teacher misconduct, and to provide adequate support and resources for victims. It also underscores the importance of taking all reports of inappropriate behavior seriously and conducting thorough investigations to protect student safety.