Middle school social studies teacher arrested for luring 15-year-old using Grindr app, police say

GOSHEN, Ind. (WNDU/Gray News) – A 54-year-old social studies teacher in Indiana has been arrested and charged with child seduction after police said he was found with a teenage boy after hours in a park.

Goshen police said Donald Shafer was found by officers conducting a routine patrol at Shanklin Park around 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Police said Shafer teaches at West Side Middle School.

According to court documents, Shafer and the 15-year-old victim met on the dating app Grindr around 1 a.m. Wednesday.

The two reportedly exchanged nude photos and arranged to meet at the Goshen Public Library.

The victim told prosecutors Shafer was looking for a safe location to engage in sexual activity, so they drove to Shanklin Park. Shafer and the 15-year-old victim then engaged in sexual acts in the backseat of Shafer’s car, court documents said.

When officers arrived at the park, Shafer reportedly told the victim to tell officers they were both adults. Court documents said the victim was visibly shaking and was afraid to say no.

Shafer has been teaching social studies at West Side Middle School since 2022, according to the school’s website and documents from Elkhart Community Schools.

Records show he also worked as head track coach during the 2024-25 academic year.

After hearing about Shafer’s arrest, Angela Eger said her daughter, a ninth-grader at West Side Middle School, decided to stay home.

“I was racking my brain trying to come up with who it was. And I never would have thought it was him,” Eger said. “She just needed some time to process everything.”

Eger said she was relieved the alleged incident did not happen at school.

“I’m just glad that it didn’t happen at school in front of these children,” she said. “I’m glad that when it did happen, he was taken in right away.”

Shafer was booked into the Elkhart County Jail on charges of sexual misconduct with a minor, child seduction, child solicitation and child exploitation.

In a letter sent to families, Elkhart Community Schools said Shafer was put on paid administrative leave as authorities continue to investigate.