Zanesville preschool employee charged with rape

By Christine Holmes, News Director

A Zanesville preschool employee faces a felony rape charge after being accused of sexually assaulting a child at Careytown School on Pershing Road.

Derek Shaffer, 28, was arrested at his Whitham Avenue home in Zanesville Thursday afternoon by the Zanesville Police Department and Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department.

ZPD was notified of the assault earlier this summer which launched a joint investigation with the detective unit and Licking County Children Services.

Shaffer is currently being held in the Zanesville City Jail on a $1 million bond.