Principal found teacher-teen calls

SARANAC, Mich. (WOOD) - A complete police report on former Saranac High School teacher Krag Sanford shows that school leaders, including the principal, knew about his relationship with a then 16-year-old student, but failed to report it.

Police reports show detectives interviewed Saranac High School Principal Beth Simpson back in December 2010.

Simpson told detectives she felt uncomfortable after Sanford admitted to a father-daughter type relationship with the student and then told her he was leaving his wife, according to the report.

Simpson also told detectives people had seen Sanford and the student together at a restaurant during school hours.

After police went on to ask Simpson why she didn't contact law enforcement or social services, she told them "there wasn't enough evidence that there was a crime between the two."

But Sanford's wife told detectives it was principal Simpson who helped her access Krag Sanford's cell phone records and discovered hundreds of phone calls between Sanford and the girl. Police said it was actually more than 464 phone calls.

Simpson told police that she did notify her supervisor, former superintendent Jeanette Adams, but that neither of them contacted police or DHS.

Sanford's wife also told police that she, Sanford, and Principal Simpson had all been friends for several years.

Detectives told Sanford they had staked out his apartment and saw the girl spend the night. They then asked Sanford what was going on. According to the report, Sanford replied 'the end of my life.'

59-year-old Krag Sanford was a teacher at Saranac High School when text messages indicated he started having sex with a 16-year-old student.

The two have since filed for a marriage license and the now 17-year-old girl is pregnant with his child.

Sanford has since pleaded no contest to accosting a minor for immoral purposes in Kent County. In a separate Ionia County case , he also pleaded no contest to two counts of distribution of sexually explicit visual or verbal matter to a child.

As part of that plea agreement Sanford is required to give up his teaching certificate and register as a sex offender. Sanford said in court he has already handed over his teaching license.