JCPS teacher accused of groping men may be tied to incident in Canada

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A teacher with Jefferson County Public Schools accused of dressing up like a woman and groping men may have also gone international.

Michael Mascardo now faces eight total charges after more alleged victims came forward -- and now police are trying to connect him to an incident in Canada.

Oldham County Police say in Canada, a man with the same birthday, same routine and same description pulled a knife on a 17-year-old and tried to make that teenager engage in sex acts in 2002.

Oldham Police confirm Mascardo used to live and work in the same area in Canada where the teen was assaulted.

The only reason Oldham County Police investigators say they can't tie Mascardo to it just yet, is that Canadian police haven't provided a picture of the suspect.

On Wednesday a not guilty plea was entered for Mascardo in Oldham County court on all eight misdemeanor sexual abuse charges.

Oldham County Police say they began investigating after a victim reported Mascardo approached him in his car dressed like a woman, pulled out a map and asked for directions.

Mascardo allegedly then reached into the car and sexually groped him.

Since publicizing Mascardo's case, police say they've talked to more than a dozen men now who came to file reports, all with similar stories. Investigators say because of the statute of limitations, they were only able to press charges in eight instances.

Police say all of the victims are adult men.

In addition to Oldham County, authorities say victims have also come forward from Carroll County and Jefferson County.

Mascardo is currently out on bond. He's been forbidden to have any contact with any victims.

JCPS confirms the Minor Daniels Academy math teacher has been reassigned into a role where he doesn't have contact with students.

A district spokesperson said Mascardo is "working from an off-site, remote location and has no contact with JCPS students or staff other than his supervisor." Exactly what Mascardo is doing in his new role remains unclear.

WDRB News also learned JCPS was not Mascardo's first teaching role in Kentucky.

Trimble County Schools confirms Mascardo was a teacher during the 2014-2015 school year where he taught math at the high school.