Rehobeth Teacher Robert Lee Michel Now Faces Child Porn Charges

A Rehobeth school teacher arrested for having sex with a 16-year old student who attends the school is now facing four additional charges---these for child pornography. A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation said a search warrant was served on Robert Lee Michel's home following his arrest.. The person--not allowed to comment publicly on such matters---said computers and drives were seized on which a "very large number" of pornographic images were found. The search led to the most recent charges against Michael.

Houston County Lead Investigator Sgt. Bill Rafferty, not the source, testified during a bond hearing Friday at least one of the images was that of a child under the age of five.   

Michel, 43, is jailed on felony allegations he had sex at least three times with the student.  Michael was arrested after, according to investigators, he fled the girl's home when the teen's mom returned home unexpectedly April 20. The mother, during a 911 phone call, said Michel was in the bedroom with her daughter engaging in sexual activity.

Sheriff Andy Hughes said Michel ran from the home without clothes on.  Hughes said Michel was captured a short time later--clad in only trash bags.  He was charged under a recently-enacted Alabama law that makes it a felony for a teacher to engage in sexual relations with a student under the age of nineteen.

Additionally, investigators are believed to be looking at the possibility Michel had engaged in sex with the girl before she turned sixteen.  If he did, Michel could be charged with Rape Second Degree--a felony.

The teacher has been placed on administrative leave and will likely be terminated after a teaching career of almost 20 years.

Court records indicate Michel's wife filed for divorce April 25, just five days after he was arrested. Meanwhile, District Judge Benjamin Lewis took a request for bond under advisement following a hearing held Friday morning.