A former Neosho Middle School band instructor accused of child sexual abuse charges is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday morning.
Brian Matthew Rash, 38, Joplin, is scheduled to appear at 8:30 a.m. Thursday before Jasper County Division V Associate Circuit Court Judge Richard D. Copeland for the proceeding.
Rash was arrested at 5:27 p.m. Nov. 6 at his Joplin home on warrants out of Ottawa County, Okla., where he faces eight counts, including first degree rape, first-degree attempted rape, four counts of rape by instrumentation and two counts of making a lewd and indecent proposal to a child.
On Tuesday, the Miami News-Record reported Rash is accused of molesting at least two former male band students while he taught at Wyandotte, Okla., schools.
Rash reportedly told Oklahoma authorities he performed oral sex with a former band student in Neosho. Dr. Richard Page, superintendent of the Neosho R-5 School District, said he was not aware of any inappropriate behavior while Rash taught in the district, from 2000-2007, nor had any complaints ever been filed.
Rash was also employed by Joplin Catholic Schools from 1995 to 1997.
Rash is currently being held in the Jasper County Jail in lieu of $650,000 bond while awaiting extradition to Oklahoma.
Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office at (918) 542-2807.
