Christopher Lehto
The state Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal of a Kent County teacher who lost his job because of a sexual relationship with a former student.
Christopher Lehto of Felton was charged with fourth-degree rape last year after authorities learned of his relationship with a 17-year-old high school student in another district. Lehto was an art teacher at Star Hill Elementary School at the time, and the alleged victim was a former student.
Lehto, 35, argued that the Caesar Rodney School District was wrong to terminate him for immorality because the rape charge was dismissed and all of his teaching evaluations had been positive.
Lehto contended that the rape charge was dismissed because the Department of Justice determined that he was not in a position of trust or authority over the girl, who attended high school in another district, and that she was of legal age to consent to a sexual relationship.
According to court records, Lehto became reacquainted with his former student in December 2006 when she began to come to Star Hill to pick up a younger sibling. The relationship became sexual in nature a few months later. The girl subsequently told a friend about the relationship, and the friend's parent called state police.
Even though the rape charge had been dismissed, the school board concluded in August 2007 that Lehto's conduct constituted immorality, violated societal mores and was just cause for termination.
http://www.teachercrime.com/delaware.html
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