Christian school teacher arrested for sex with teen girl
AUBURN, Wash. - A religion teacher at a private Christian-based high school has been arrested on suspicion of having sex with a female teenage student there, police said Saturday.
Scott A. Spies, 49, a teacher at the Auburn Adventist Academy, was arrested Tuesday and later booked into the Regional Justice Center in Kent, said Sgt. David Colglazier of the Auburn police.
He is being held on $150,000 bail for investigation of molestation, indecent liberties and sex with a minor, police said.
Spies has since been fired, and school officials are helping the victim in any way they can. Counselors are being provided for other students.
Meanwhile, faculty members at the close-knit school are reeling from the news that one of their own is suspected of having sex with a student.
"We were called in for a faculty meeting, and that's the first time I heard it," said teacher Tom Allen.
Sgt. Colglazier said the relationship allegedly started in February 2009, when the girl was 15 years old, and became sexual last fall, after she returned from a visit to Thailand.
The two had intercourse about 15 times - usually at Spies' apartment in Auburn, Colglazier said.
The sexual relationship continued until about two weeks ago, Colglazier said. The girl is now 16 years old.
Meanwhile, administrators began to hear the rumors that Spies was taking the girl back to his apartment in Auburn, and an investigation began.
According to online records, Spies has a master's degree in theology and began teaching at the Auburn Adventist Academy in 2009. He also is an alumnus of the school, graduating in 1979.
Neighbors say Spies kept to himself.
"He just comes and goes. He doesn't stop. He's just really quick. And he's never out. He's just a really quiet man," says one neighbor, Alana Shemchuk.
The school has now removed Spies' name from the faculty list on its Web site. But before its removal, his bio stated that "his passions in life are kids, trains, traveling, the Bible, and letting them know Jesus loves them. His biggest goal is to go to heaven."
School Principal Marvin Mitchell says he asked Spies how this could happen.
"He was very remorseful. Very remorseful," says Mitchell.
Established in 1919, Auburn Adventist Academy is a private coeducational Christian boarding and day high school operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It holds itself to the highest standards.
Mitchell says this betrayal stings deeply, but they are helping the girl and other students cope with the damage done.
"We are telling them that we are in the business of educating and protecting them, and that they need not fear that this is going to be anything but one isolated incident," he said.
Scott A. Spies, 49, a teacher at the Auburn Adventist Academy, was arrested Tuesday and later booked into the Regional Justice Center in Kent, said Sgt. David Colglazier of the Auburn police.
He is being held on $150,000 bail for investigation of molestation, indecent liberties and sex with a minor, police said.
Spies has since been fired, and school officials are helping the victim in any way they can. Counselors are being provided for other students.
Meanwhile, faculty members at the close-knit school are reeling from the news that one of their own is suspected of having sex with a student.
"We were called in for a faculty meeting, and that's the first time I heard it," said teacher Tom Allen.
Sgt. Colglazier said the relationship allegedly started in February 2009, when the girl was 15 years old, and became sexual last fall, after she returned from a visit to Thailand.
The two had intercourse about 15 times - usually at Spies' apartment in Auburn, Colglazier said.
The sexual relationship continued until about two weeks ago, Colglazier said. The girl is now 16 years old.
Meanwhile, administrators began to hear the rumors that Spies was taking the girl back to his apartment in Auburn, and an investigation began.
According to online records, Spies has a master's degree in theology and began teaching at the Auburn Adventist Academy in 2009. He also is an alumnus of the school, graduating in 1979.
Neighbors say Spies kept to himself.
"He just comes and goes. He doesn't stop. He's just really quick. And he's never out. He's just a really quiet man," says one neighbor, Alana Shemchuk.
The school has now removed Spies' name from the faculty list on its Web site. But before its removal, his bio stated that "his passions in life are kids, trains, traveling, the Bible, and letting them know Jesus loves them. His biggest goal is to go to heaven."
School Principal Marvin Mitchell says he asked Spies how this could happen.
"He was very remorseful. Very remorseful," says Mitchell.
Established in 1919, Auburn Adventist Academy is a private coeducational Christian boarding and day high school operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It holds itself to the highest standards.
Mitchell says this betrayal stings deeply, but they are helping the girl and other students cope with the damage done.
"We are telling them that we are in the business of educating and protecting them, and that they need not fear that this is going to be anything but one isolated incident," he said.
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