Report: Principal sent explicit texts

VICKSBURG, Mich. (WOOD) - An investigation report alleges that a Vicksburg Middle School principal sexually assaulted a former student several times over the course of two years.

Greg Tibbetts, 42, faces 13 felonies connected to an alleged sexual relationship with a teenage boy from the school. The charges range from second-degree criminal sexual conduct to possession of child sexually abusive material. Tibbetts has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The report, filed by a Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department detective and obtained via the Freedom of Information Act, says that the now-15-year-old said a series of sexual assaults happened between 2010 and 2011 while the victim was in 7th and 8th grade.

The first evidence of the alleged assaults came in late September 2012 when the alleged victim's mother found texts of a sexual nature on the teen's cell phone that appeared to be part of a conversation with Tibbetts.

The mother contacted a Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officer familiar with their family, who then contacted the county sheriff's department, at which point the investigation began.

The teen was interviewed by authorities and said he became acquainted with Tibbetts at age 13, according to the report.

Between 2010 and 2011, the report says, Tibbetts would often take the teen to school because his mother had to leave the house early. The alleged victim told authorities that he would often still be in bed when Tibbetts arrived at his home.

The alleged victim said that on several occasions, Tibbetts performed sexual acts on him while he pretended to sleep.

The teen told authorities he spent time at Tibbetts's home and with his family. The alleged victim said that Tibbetts would often give him alcohol and that on several occasions he passed out at Tibbetts' home and was naked when he woke up.

Around this same time, the report says, Tibbetts also bought the teen gifts including alcohol, clothes and sports equipment. Tibbetts also paid for the teen to attend several sports training events.

In mid-September, the report says, the teen re-established contact with Tibbetts because he wanted Tibbetts to buy him alcohol. He said Tibbetts often left vodka for him in a wooded area.

A series of September text messages transcribed in the report seem to show Tibbetts asking the alleged victim about specific sexual acts.

In the same timeframe, the teen told authorities, Tibbetts performed a sexual act in front of him via web cam.

The report also says that sexually explicit images of children were was found on Tibbetts's iPad, which belonged the school district, and personal iPhone. None of the children seen in the images were Vicksburg students, the report says.

Tibbetts, who has been with the Vicksburg district for nine years, was placed on administrative leave Sept. 25. He was arraigned Oct. 30.