Hayden elementary school teacher accused of molesting children in late 1990s and early 2000s

A Hayden Meadows Elementary School teacher accused of molesting three children in the early 2000s appeared in court Monday afternoon.

A Kootenai County grand jury indicted 61-year-old Ronald Stone last week, leading to his arrest Friday afternoon. Coeur d’Alene School District Spokesman Scott Maben said Stone has worked for the district as an elementary teacher since 1981.

Because the charges were forwarded by a grand jury, the specifics of the crime have been sealed. However, the indictment lists three separate victims who were molested and abused from at least March 1999 to May 2006. One victim, according to the indictment, was 4 years old when the alleged abuse began.

Steven Cook, superintendent of the school district, sent a letter Saturday to parents saying the victims do not include any students in the Coeur d’Alene School District.

Kootenai County Sheriff’s Detective Dennis Stinebaugh reaffirmed Monday that the victims were not district students.

Stone was placed on administrative leave Friday. He remains housed at the Kootenai County Jail in lieu of a $250,000 bond. He faces two felony charges of lewd conduct and one of sexual abuse of a minor.