A South Lake High School teacher is accused of fondling two male students while hanging out with a group of teenagers on a boat belonging to the parents of a former student.
Melissa Lavender, 33, was arraigned Wednesday on two charges of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. She is suspended from her job of 6 years as a culinary arts teacher, said her lawyer, Michael Dennis.
St. Clair Shores Police Detective Harold Bergeron said a teen who witnessed the June 26 sex acts came forward last week.
Police interviewed the partygoers -- three females and five males, several of whom were teenagers -- who said they drank alcohol with the teacher and saw her inappropriately touch two current students, ages 16 and 17. The boat was docked in a St. Clair Shores marina, Bergeron said.
Michigan's age of consent is 16, but a state statute makes it illegal for a teacher to engage in sex acts with a student, no matter the student's age.
The charges are misdemeanors punishable by up to two years in prison.
Full story:Note from Gag:
If this boat is a-rockin', don't come a-knockin'!
