A married teacher in Michigan has been charged with having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student — assaulting her in a classroom, on an airplane and dozens of times at a secret apartment he rented, authorities said.
Jason William Dean, 36, was arraigned Wednesday on felony criminal sexual conduct charges after the female student reported that they engaged in sex acts on school grounds, at after-school events and other locations when she was an eighth-grader in 2010, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office announced.
“I applaud this brave victim in coming forward to report this truly atrocious behavior by a teacher,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “Our teachers are supposed to be trusted mentors, role models, and leaders for our children, and when one violates this trust, they must be held accountable and punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
Investigators were able to corroborate the victim’s allegations, citing unspecified evidence that the pair had an ongoing sexual relationship, Bouchard said.
Dean, of Livonia, was teaching at Cedar Crest Academy in Springfield Township during the alleged assaults. He also coached soccer and basketball at the school, authorities said.
The sex acts between Dean and the student took place at a variety of locations, including at the student’s home in White Lake, Dean’s classroom and a rented apartment in Waterford Township where they met at least 30 times, WDIV reports.
Prosecutors said Dean also sexually assaulted the girl on an airplane as they returned from an eighth-grade class trip in Orlando, according to the station.
Dean admitted to the sex acts when grilled by detectives and said he has told his wife about the assaults. The married father has no known prior criminal convictions, WDIV reports.
Dean, who now works as a teacher at Northville High School, has been placed on administrative leave by Northville Public Schools, the Oakland Press reports.
An attorney for Dean told the newspaper he was awaiting evidence from prosecutors regarding the allegations.
Dean remained in custody at the Oakland County Jail Thursday on $500,000 bond, records show. He’s set to return to court for a probable cause hearing on Feb. 10, WDIV reports.