Former South Middle School teacher bound over for trial on sex charge

Former Joplin South Middle School eighth grade science teacher Charles Dominic Gastel, 39, will remain behind bars until the judge rules on the government's request that he be denied bond.

Gastel, who resigned his teaching position at South after one year to take a job with another school district, faces a charge of sexual exploitation of a minor.

During the six-minute hearing this morning at the federal courthouse in Springfield, Judge David P. Rush found probable cause after reviewing the affidavit filed by an officer with the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force and ordered the case held for grand jury or other proceedings. Gastel waived his right to have the charges heard by a grand jury.