Teacher arrested for forcing herself on 16-year-old student and threatening him against going to authorities
A Colorado high school teacher was arrested after she allegedly sent one of her male students sexually explicit photos and videos, forced herself on him, and threatened him against going to the authorities.
According to a press release from the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, 24-year-old Sarah Porter, a Spanish teacher and assistant track coach at Arapahoe High School, was arrested last Friday, after the department received an anonymous tip from a student about her misconduct through the Safe2Tell reporting system.
Investigators subsequently responded to the school and conducted a preliminary investigation with school staff. They were able to develop enough probable cause that the 24-year-old had sexually assaulted one of her 16-year-old male students and arrested her.
Court documents obtained by CBS Denver state Porter started courting the teen by sending him messages via social media app SnapChat during track practice and that the victim complained of the 24-year-old being "very touchy" and paying extra attention in coaching him.
Then, a week after the practice started, Porter allegedly took the teen out from practice and to an office to get a uniform. While in the office, she turned out the lights and "grabbed him," according to the documents, and then instructed him to follow along by threatening to "do something" otherwise.
The victim told detectives it was at this point that Porter grabbed him, started kissing him and tried to pull down his pants. Luckily, the assault was interrupted when she received messages from another coach, possibly about a meeting. He also claimed she had sent him nude photos and videos of her masturbating on Snapchat.
After the allegations came to light, she was reportedly confronted by the head track coach and confessed to sending the teen revealing photos while wearing a tank top.
A clinical social worker said she later similarly admitted to having physical contact with the victim and to doing "everything leading to it [sex]."
Her LinkedIn profile showed her having graduated from the University of Colorado with a Master's degree in Education and listed as a teacher at the Arapahoe High School since August 2018.
The Daily Mail reported that after her arrest, Littleton Public Schools Superintendent Brian Ewert confirmed in a letter to parents and students that Porter had been fired and that a substitute teacher would be replacing her.
Porter has been charged with sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust, and sexual exploitation of children/pornography/obscene material. She has been booked on a no-bond hold.
Counselors will be made available at the school after the spring break to help students cope with the allegations and charges.