FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2026
Contact: ucda@co.ulster.ny.us
(845) 340-3280
FORMER SAUGERTIES CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEE REID KAPPLER PLEADS GUILTY
KINGSTON, NY – On January 5, 2026, Reid Kappler, age 32, of Connecticut, pled guilty to three counts of Rape in the Third Degree before the Honorable Bryan E. Rounds in Ulster County Court in connection to various sexual offenses committed by him against minors between 2023 and 2024 during his employment as a custodian and wrestling coach with the Saugerties Central School District. He faces a maximum of 4 years prison on each count.
The conduct for which Kappler has pled guilty involved sexual intercourse with two minor children while the children were between fifteen and sixteen years old and attending Saugerties High School. Kappler engaged in many of these acts while working in his capacity as a wrestling coach and custodian for Saugerties Central School District.
Following his indictment on multiple charges, Kappler was apprehended in his home in Connecticut in July 2025 by a team of the US Marshalls Task Force, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, and Investigators from the Ulster County Family & Children Advocacy Center.
The defendant remains in jail until sentencing on March 25, 2026, at 1:00PM.
“This defendant broke the trust of many members of our community: students, parents, and teachers alike. This defendant manipulated his position as a custodian and wrestling coach to sexually prey upon two young students. Our girls, and our children, deserve to go to school without fear of sexual abuse. I commend the victim for her absolute bravery for coming forward about the abuse she endured.” said Senior Assistant District Attorney Jenna Hastings.
DA Nneji said, “We as a community are grateful to the child-victims for bringing to light the conduct by Reid Kappler, and their fortitude to go forward with the investigation. We all know from the current national dialogue and outrage the trauma such conduct causes to victims – it is real. By his plea today, Reid Kappler has affirmed that he engaged in sexual contact with minors and imposed upon them such traumatic experience. By their actions, the victims have taken steps to stop him from doing it again.”
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jenna Hastings. The investigation was handled by the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center following referral from the Saugerties Police Department. The defendant is represented by Cappy Weiner of the Law Office of Cappy Weiner, Kingston.
Anyone with information relevant to this case or Reid Kappler is encouraged to call the Ulster County Family and Child Center. If you or a loved one are experiencing sexual violence, please call the Ulster County Crime Victims Assistance Program at (845) 340-3443, or 911 if you are in immediate danger.
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