Jun 7, 2007 12:19 am US/Central
Teacher, Coach Charged For Having Sex With Student
Montgomery, Minn. (AP) ―
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Authorities say Bernard is suspected of "engaging in sexual misconduct" with a student of the school at his home and at the school.
Le Sueur County Sheriff's Department
A Montgomery Middle School teacher was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old student.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Le Sueur County, Troy Michael Bernard, 35, of Montgomery, began his sexual relationship with the student last summer when she was 14. He was her volleyball coach at the time.
Bernard taught fifth grade and coached girls' track and volleyball. He made his first court appearance Wednesday, when bail was set at $100,000 bond or $10,000 cash.
Authorities said a child protection worker brought the relationship to light late last month. The girl's mother told a deputy that she was aware of the relationship and had told her daughter not to see Bernard again. She also said she had confronted the teacher and that he had admitted having sex with her daughter.
She told authorities she discovered the relationship early last month when her daughter failed to return from a run on time. She found text messages between them on her daughter's cell phone.
The woman later called Bernard with police listening in. During that call, authorities said, Bernard allegedly said he hadn't seen the girl since the mother had confronted him. He allegedly said he didn't know how many times they'd had sex, and admitted he hadn't always used a condom.
The Le Sueur County sheriff's office was investigating whether there might be other victims.
If convicted, Bernard could face up to 30 years in prison.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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