Former Rehobeth Teacher Admits To Sex, Porn Charges
By: Ken Curtis
Updated: October 11, 2012
A former Rehobeth High School teacher has pleaded guilty to having sex with a student. Robert Lee Michel also admitted guilt to possessing child pornography.
Specifically, Michel pleaded guilty to three charges of
violating the School Sex Employee
Act passed during the 2010 state legislative
session. Previously, a teacher could be
charged if the student was at least 16 years old as was Michel's victim when
the sex acts occurred. The girl was 16
at the time of the incident.
Additionally, Michel admitted to four counts of possessing child porn, charges which stemmed from what investigators termed a large number of images found during a search of his personal computer.
Michel, 44, was taken into custody after, according to investigators, he fled the 16-year old student's home when the teen's mom returned home unexpectedly and found Michael and her daughter engaged in sexual activity.
Sheriff Andy Hughes said Michel ran from the home without clothes on. He was captured a short time later--clad in only trash bags. The alleged incident occurred April 20, 2010. Michel was terminated from his job.
Following Michel's arrest, a warrant was obtained which lead to the search of his Cynthia Drive home. After analyzing Michel's computer, sheriff's office investigators filed the pornography charges.
A presentence investigation was ordered by Circuit Judge Butch Binford. A sentencing date has been set for November 14.
