Charges: Former Maple Grove Teacher Admits To Touching, Kissing Student
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. (WCCO) -- A former Twin Cities teacher is accused of having inappropriate conduct with a student.
Jessica Chase was a teacher at Maple Grove Senior High and she also coached softball. Now, the 35-year-old faces one felony charge of criminal sexual conduct.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim is a 17-year-old female student. Chase told police she had known the girl for a year and a half.
Chase didn't answer the door Thursday at her home in Coon Rapids.
It's been six weeks since she resigned from Maple Grove Senior High following an investigation into her involvement with a student.
"This was a relationship that started and had gone inappropriate," said Capt. Adam Lindquist with the Maple Grove Police Department.
According to the criminal complaint, Chase had tutored and coached softball for the 17-year-old victim.
Police found text messages between the two from June and July of this year in which they discussed kissing, cuddling and touching.
In one text, the Chase allegedly said: "I want you to 50 shades me."
Other texts indicated Chase would meet the victim at her parents' home.
"As far as the text messages, we want to look at that and make sure there are no other students involved, and we're quite confident that's not the case here," Lindquist said.
Chase admitted to police that she kissed the 17-year-old and touched her inner thigh.
If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.
Lindquist says that as kids head back to school, it's a reminder to parents to ask questions.
"There's things going on in our children's lives," he said. "We just need to have communication with them what's going in school in their friends lives and athletics."
Chase worked at Maple Grove Senior High from August 2014 to July of this year.
Before that she was a teacher at Wayzata High School.
A Wayzata district spokesperson said Chase had no complaints filed against her in her time there.
