A former Dover High School teacher accused of raping a student was hired despite having a felony record for attempting to extort a young man

WBOC:

State law requires candidates for teaching positions to undergo a criminal background check, so it's unclear why former chorus teacher Dion Savage was hired just three years after he pleaded guilty to a felony.

The law says job candidates "may" be disqualified if they have committed a felony within the previous five years. But disqualification is not automatic.

The 28-year-old Savage is facing 13 counts of rape. Investigators say he had a 10-month affair with a 17-year-old male student.

According to court records, Savage admitted in 1998 that he threatened to make public a tape he said he had secretly recorded of a young man unless the man allowed Savage to take pictures of his genitals.

Imprisoned ex-teacher was felon when hired

Delaware Teacher Charged with Child Porn