A former Saugerties Central School District employee and wrestling coach has been indicted on 18 counts of felony rape, following allegations that he engaged in sexual conduct with two underage students while working in the district.
Reid Kappler, 32, who now resides in Connecticut, pleaded not guilty in Ulster County Court on Thursday. Prosecutors say the conduct occurred during the 2023–2024 school year, when Kappler was employed as both a school custodian and volunteer coach. At the time, the students were 15 and 16 years old.
Kappler remains in custody at the Ulster County Jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for October.
According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, the allegations against Kappler surfaced during an unrelated investigation into Saugerties Police Officer Sydney Mills, who was indicted earlier this month on felony charges of rape and sexual abuse involving a minor. Authorities have not indicated that the two cases are otherwise connected.
One day before Kappler’s arraignment, Superintendent Daniel Erceg and Saugerties Board of Education President Jeffrey Riozzi issued a letter to district families, alerting them to what they called “deeply troubling allegations involving an inappropriate relationship between a former staff member and a former student.” While the letter did not name Kappler or reference criminal charges, its timing and content align with the DA’s announcement.
“The safety, well-being, and trust of every student in our care remains our highest priority,” Erceg and Riozzi wrote. “We take all reports seriously, and any allegations of inappropriate behavior or misconduct are immediately and thoroughly investigated.”
The district confirmed that it is cooperating with law enforcement and has notified the New York State Department of Education and the Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability. Officials have not said when Kappler left the district or whether he passed a background check before being hired.
It remains unclear whether the alleged victims came forward themselves or whether the accusations emerged through digital evidence or witness testimony during the Mills investigation.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office Crime Tips Hotline at (845) 340-3599. Families seeking support are advised to call the Saugerties Senior High School office at (845) 247-6651 to be connected with counseling resources.
This is a developing story.