A Sashabaw Middle School teacher is facing charges for alleged inappropriate communication with a student.
Police in Independence Township said Michelle Simonson, a special education teacher at SMS, admitted she exchanged approximately 50 text messages’some sexually explicit’with a 14-year-old boy, and also sent the youth a partially nude photo of herself via cell phone.
Simonson, 28, was arraigned Aug. 7 in 52/2 District Court on one felony count of enticing for immoral purposes, and one count of distributing sexually explicit visual/verbal matter to a minor.
Officials at the Independence Township substation said the investigation was triggered after the boy’s foster parents voiced concerns to the Oakland County Department of Human Services.
The agency interviewed the youth and forwarded information to police, requesting an investigation.
Approximately 10 texts and a partially nude photo appearing to originate from Simonson’s cell phone were documented with assistance from the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit, authorities said.
According to reports, the boy was a student of Simonson’s when the two began exchanging text messages during the late fall of 2008; the communication allegedly continued until around the time the 2008-2009 school year ended.
Investigators said the boy reported feeling ‘very uncomfortable? as message content became more explicit, and told the teacher he wanted to stop.
The boy also told police he and Simonson never engaged in any direct physical contact, nor did they share any inappropriate direct conversations.
Simonson provided a similar account to police.
During a July 27 meeting with Independence Township Det. Kirk Matich, who serves as sheriff’s liaison to the district’s seven elementary schools, as well as the middle and junior high schools, Simonson admitted she had exchanged approximately 50 text messages with the boy, some of which were sexually explicit, and had sent him the partially nude photo of herself.
Like the student, Simonson stated she had not engaged in any physical contact with the boy, nor had any inappropriate direct conversation in or out of school.
‘The statements seem to agree,? said Lt. Dale LaBair, commander of the Independence Township substation, noting he did not attend Simonson’s interview but was later advised of findings. ‘There’s no indication anything more happened. The boy got uncomfortable and swore the whole thing off, and at that time she thought ‘I’ve really run overboard.? She realized her actions weren’t very smart, and’fell on the sword (when interviewed by police).?
According to reports, Simonson told police the texting began ‘very innocently with her wanting to help (the student), then progressed where she knew she had acted very stupidly and ‘crossed the line.??
Simonson, who denied any similar activity with other students or juveniles, waived her right to a preliminary exam within 14 days’presumably to give her attorney adequate time to prepare the case. She has no criminal record or previous police contacts, and was released on $1,500 personal bond.
‘The district will honor her due process rights,? wrote Clarkston Community Schools? spokesperson Anita Banach in response to an email inquiry about the district’s early reaction. ‘These types of incidents are truly disappointing. This is one individual who has made a very poor decision.?
Simonson hired into the district in 2007.
‘Last year she was an (Learning resource Center) teacher at SMS,? Banach said.?’She may have done some travel between buildings for a short time (she is in Special Education) but for the most part she has worked at SMS.?
Banach also included a statement from Superintendent Al Roberts in her reply.
‘We will take the strongest possible action to protect our students,? said Roberts, via Banach’s email.