Teacher Accused Of Having Sex With Student Turns Herself In

BRIGHTON, Colo. -- The Brighton high school teacher accused of having sex with a 17-year-old male student turned herself in to authorities in Jefferson County Tuesday morning.

Carrie McCandless, 29, posted $20,000 bond and was released Tuesday afternoon. She faces charges of sexual assault on a child and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

McCandless is an English teacher and cheerleading coach at Brighton Charter High School. Police said McCandless assaulted the student during a student trip at a YMCA camp near Estes Park, a trip in which she was the chaperone.

News reporters have tried to interview her, but she refused, saying that she didn't know the student and hadn't done anything wrong. When she bonded out, she hurriedly entered a car without making a comment. Her attorney has also refused interviews.

McCandless' husband is the principal at Brighton Charter High School. McCandless was terminated from the school.

The school board president, David Mundy, is also being charged with failure to report and tampering with a witness or victim. The president apparently knew about the alleged incident but didn't report it to police until two weeks later. State law requires school officials to report allegations of child abuse or neglect to police immediately.

Investigators first learned about the case from a news reporter.

Parents are upset that they haven't been notified about the allegations against one of Brighton's teachers.

"I'm in shock," said parent Darlene Mueller. "I think the students are the most important people and that parents should know about this to try to protect their child."

Although McCandless taught in Brighton, the alleged assault occurred in Larimer County, so Brighton police are working with the Larimer County Sheriff's Office in the case.

It's the second time a staffer has been accused of sexual impropriety with a student at the Brighton Charter High School in the past year. David Mundy Jr., 31, is accused of sexually assaulting a student during a party at his apartment last summer. He was a firefighter and occasional substitute teacher at the school. He is also the son of the charter school board's president.

Ironically, Brighton Charter School is housed in the old Adams County Hall of Justice.