Update on Auburn Teacher charged with Rape

A religion teacher accused of raping a teenage student pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning.

Scott Spies, a teacher at the Auburn Adventist Academy, has been charged with third-degree child rape and sexual misconduct with a minor.

At the Regional Justice Center, Spies was surrounded by family and a fellow teacher when he arrived for his arraignment.

Spies, 49, taught Bible study classes at the school and was fired after the allegations came to light.

Investigators said the relationship allegedly started in February 2009, when the girl was 15 years old, and became sexual last fall.

The article continues at KOMO news

Auburn Adventist Academy Teacher charged with Rape

Bad news for Auburn Adventist Academy

From King 5.com

by TONYA MOSLEY / KING 5 News

Posted on February 20, 2010 at 3:35 PM

Updated today at 6:50 PM

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AUBURN, Wash. – A Bible teacher at an Auburn school has been charged with having sex with a 15-year-old student.

Police say Scott Spies, 49, confessed to having sex with a girl from Auburn Adventist Academy more than 15 times over the course of the school year.

Spies is charged with third degree rape and sexual misconduct. He was arrested last week and released from jail on Saturday after posting bail

Auburn Adventist Academy Principal Marvin Mitchell calls it a tragedy.

"The situation escalated into something that was unacceptable," he said.

Mitchell said the now 16-year-old student, who is part of the boarding program at the private Christian academy, looked to Spies as a mentor.

"She found a person who she felt like she could share with and that was the beginning of it," he said.

Detectives call what happened rape.

"The student described them as starting to get close in about February of 09," says Sgt. Dave Colglazier with the Auburn Police Department.

On Tuesday, the student told police that she and Spies began having sex at the beginning of the school year at his apartment just a few miles away from the school

The school first starting hearing rumors about the relationship late last week and brought both the student and Spies in the office for questioning. They both denied it until Monday. The school immediately notified police and fired Spies.

"Because of this we are re-examining all of our policies and teacher student relationships, we are dedicated to the safety of our students," said Mitchell.