Jeff Ball, 52, a vocational agriculture teacher and FFA adviser at Minot High School, has been cited in Berthold Municipal Court for Class B misdemeanor facilitation of prostitution, according to the Berthold police department.

Ball, who lives in Des Lacs, is scheduled to make a court appearance on March 16, according to Berthold Police Chief Al Schmidt.

“Minot Public Schools did receive information regarding teacher Jeffrey Ball which resulted in the District placing Mr. Ball on administrative leave pending further investigation,” said Minot Public Schools Superintendent Mark Vollmer on Wednesday. “The District has received no information that there is or has been a health or safety risk to staff or students whatsoever, but as is always the case, the District will follow policy and legal requirements to ensure we have a safe learning and working environment. Due to the pending investigation, nothing further can be discussed at this time.”

Also cited was Xin Gao, 55, from California, who has been charged with Class B misdemeanor prostitution in Berthold Municipal Court, according to Chief Schmidt.

Schmidt said the Berthold and Carpio police departments have been investigating the incident since early February.

Ball had submitted a letter to the Minot school board last month indicating that he plans to retire in May, at the end of the school year. He indicated in the letter that he felt some of his classes this semester are overcrowded. Vollmer said last month that the school administration did not believe the classes were too crowded to safely operate.