Stewart Kitchen in a staff photograph.
Credit: OSU Marching Band
Christopher Stewart Kitchen, former drum major instructor for the Ohio State marching band, has been indicted on charges connected to the rape of an OSU student, according to a Tuesday press release by Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien.
The indictment returned by a grand jury includes five counts: two felony counts of rape, two felony counts of sexual battery and one misdemeanor count of failure to comply with underage drinking laws.
Kitchen is alleged to have raped a student in his University District home on April 16, after inviting her to have drinks with him.
“If convicted on all charges, Kitchen faces in excess of 20 years incarceration,” O’Brien said in the release.
Kitchen was arraigned and charged with rape and kidnapping on April 29, before his case was disposed to the Franklin County Grand Jury on Friday, according to online court records.
Kitchen was freed from custody after posting a $50,085 bond, according to online court records.
Kitchen is no longer an employee at OSU, according to an emailed statement by the university. His employment appointment expired April 30 and was not renewed.
“The university remains concerned about these serious criminal allegations against someone who was once in a position of trust in our community,” OSU said in the statement. “We are continuing our own internal investigation into this matter, and we are supporting the law enforcement investigation.”
Last fall, while still employed by the university, Kitchen received a letter of reprimand from OSU for sending an inappropriate text message to band staff members while the band was performing at the Circleville Pumpkin Show on Oct. 16.
“Your behavior demonstrates a lack of sensitivity to many of the same topics about which we have been educating our students since August 2014,” the letter stated.
The letter also required Kitchen to enroll in an OSU “Emotional Intelligence Training” session.
“You must be cognizant that you represent the OSU bands, the School of Music and the university at all times,” the letter said. “Unprofessional and insensitive behaviors cannot and will not be tolerated.”
The Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is set to hear the case concerning the five charges announced Tuesday. An initial court date has yet to be set.
