No charges in teacher/student sex case

IONIA, Mich. (WOOD) - An investigation into an Ionia High School student and a teacher having sex in December 2010 has led to no charges being issued and authorities and lawmakers upset over the outcome.

A Michigan State Police investigation looked into allegations that an Ionia High school student and a teacher had sex in December, months before the student graduated from the high school.

Trooper Michael Fink handled the investigation. He said the Ionia High School student admitted she and the teacher had sex. However, the teenager said it didn't happen until after her 18th birthday, which is legal.

"Normally the age of consent is 16, but a school administrator or teacher, the age of consent goes up to 18 and this student had reached her 18th birthday prior to any sexual contact," Fink said.

Fink traced records back to a Kalamazoo hotel room, reserved under the teacher's name. The incident happened on December 11, one day after the student turned 18.

24 Hour News 8 is not naming the teacher because he has not been charged with any crime.

Three months later, the school got word from a concerned parent. This led to the district conducting their own investigation.

24 Hour News 8 pulled the teacher's personnel file and found the resignation letter he submitted to the Ionia Board of Education in March 2011. In the letter, he denied the allegations, instead citing personal reasons for leaving.

24 Hour News 8 reached out to the teacher to get his side of the story. We called the teacher's cell phone and went to the teacher's last known address and left a business card. We did not receive a call back.

Fink is worried teachers could use their position to get sex from students.

"Any student could be influenced by a teacher, regardless if they are 18 years old," Fink said.

"I am shocked that Michigan law allows any teacher to have sex with a student. I immediately requested that a bill be drafted to change Michigan law," said state Senator Rick Jones. "There is no excuse. When a parent sends their student to school, they expect them to go to school in safety."