AUSTINTOWN — The former band director at Canfield High School pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual imposition.

The charges are tied to an incident from June, when he was accused of groping two male servers at an Austintown restaurant.

Michael Kelly, 51, of Henn Hyde Road in Howland, was given a suspended jail sentence, must pay a $1,000 fine and register as a Tier I sex offender. He has to register with the sheriff once every 12 months for 15 years.

Kelly also will be on probation for a year and cannot have any contact with the victims, although he is permitted to attend his childrens’ school activities and functions, according to court records.

He previously pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea on the misdemeanor charges in Mahoning County Area Court in Austintown on Monday.

The owner of a restaurant on New Road in Austintown identified Kelly to police as the regular customer caught on video groping two servers, one 15 and the other 19, at the restaurant on June 18, according to a police report.

Austintown police contacted Canfield police, which then notified the school, and Kelly was picked up by Warren police on a warrant July 1. Canfield schools accepted his resignation the day prior. At the time, Canfield Local School District Superintendent Joe Knoll issued a statement that read:

“As a public employer, Canfield Local Schools must follow the appropriate procedures in the investigation of allegations of misconduct by a staff member. On June 30, 2022, the administration of the Canfield Local School District became aware that an accusation has been made against a staff member. The administration acted immediately to ensure that this individual had no further contact with students or the school. We are fully cooperating with local authorities and will assist in the investigation if called upon.”

Knoll sent a letter to parents in the school district to let them know that the allegations do not involve any students and did not happen on school grounds, but did offer assistance and support to any students who needed it.