Teh One Who Knocks
07-30-2012, 12:31 PM
Kevin Grasha - GANNETT NEWS SERVICE
CHARLOTTE — A Grand Ledge High School teacher will stand trial on charges that he had multiple sexual encounters last year with two male students, a judge ruled Monday.
That teacher, 33-year-old Jason Algra of Grand Ledge, faces numerous counts of first-degree and third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Algra's attorney, Frank Reynolds, said his client denies the accusations and indicated that the accusers had invented their stories.
At a preliminary hearing in Eaton County District Court before Judge Julie Reincke, both alleged victims — who were students of Algra's at Grand Ledge High School — gave graphic descriptions of alleged sexual encounters with Algra. The hearing was to determine if there was enough evidence for a trial.
One was 15 when he said he met an anonymous man with the screen name "gljock" on a dating site.
According to testimony, the anonymous man, who had chatted with the teen and sent him photos of his genitals, turned out to be Algra, the teen's teacher.
The teen said he exchanged messages with Algra on Facebook, during which Algra admitted being "gljock." The teen said they exchanged messages on Facebook about "making out" and eventually agreed to meet last August at the teen's home.
After an alleged sexual encounter, the teen testified: "I freaked out. It finally went into my head (that) I just had intercourse with a teacher."
They met for sex two more times before the relationship became known to school officials, according to testimony.
Grand Ledge school officials said they learned of the allegations in October and immediately placed Algra on paid administrative leave. He was charged in June.
Algra was hired by Grand Ledge Public Schools in 2003, according to documents obtained from the district through the Freedom of Information Act.
He initially was hired to teach science/social studies at Beagle Middle School, documents show. In 2005, he became a science teacher at Grand Ledge High School. He also was an assistant coach on the swim team.
Background checks conducted for Grand Ledge schools found no criminal record.
The second teen testified that Algra was his teacher during his freshman year, but that they didn't engage in a sexual relationship until April 2011, when he was a 17-year-old junior.
That alleged victim, who is now 18, said Algra sent him a Facebook message in April 2011 on the first day of spring break, asking if he wanted to go swimming at the school.
They met at the high school at least four times that week, according to the 18-year-old's testimony. He said they engaged sexual acts in the school shower on at least one of those days.
The sexual relationship continued for about six months, according to testimony. The relationship ended, he testified, when the allegations involving the younger teen became known.
The 18-year-old described having sexual encounters in Algra's classroom and a Delta Township parking lot as well as Algra's apartment in Grand Ledge. There were more than 20, he testified.
The 18-year-old also described one sexual encounter at the apartment that he said involved Algra and Algra's roommate.
Reynolds focused his questions on dates of the alleged sexual encounters with both students. After the hearing, he said Algra can prove he was somewhere else on at least one of the dates.
CHARLOTTE — A Grand Ledge High School teacher will stand trial on charges that he had multiple sexual encounters last year with two male students, a judge ruled Monday.
That teacher, 33-year-old Jason Algra of Grand Ledge, faces numerous counts of first-degree and third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Algra's attorney, Frank Reynolds, said his client denies the accusations and indicated that the accusers had invented their stories.
At a preliminary hearing in Eaton County District Court before Judge Julie Reincke, both alleged victims — who were students of Algra's at Grand Ledge High School — gave graphic descriptions of alleged sexual encounters with Algra. The hearing was to determine if there was enough evidence for a trial.
One was 15 when he said he met an anonymous man with the screen name "gljock" on a dating site.
According to testimony, the anonymous man, who had chatted with the teen and sent him photos of his genitals, turned out to be Algra, the teen's teacher.
The teen said he exchanged messages with Algra on Facebook, during which Algra admitted being "gljock." The teen said they exchanged messages on Facebook about "making out" and eventually agreed to meet last August at the teen's home.
After an alleged sexual encounter, the teen testified: "I freaked out. It finally went into my head (that) I just had intercourse with a teacher."
They met for sex two more times before the relationship became known to school officials, according to testimony.
Grand Ledge school officials said they learned of the allegations in October and immediately placed Algra on paid administrative leave. He was charged in June.
Algra was hired by Grand Ledge Public Schools in 2003, according to documents obtained from the district through the Freedom of Information Act.
He initially was hired to teach science/social studies at Beagle Middle School, documents show. In 2005, he became a science teacher at Grand Ledge High School. He also was an assistant coach on the swim team.
Background checks conducted for Grand Ledge schools found no criminal record.
The second teen testified that Algra was his teacher during his freshman year, but that they didn't engage in a sexual relationship until April 2011, when he was a 17-year-old junior.
That alleged victim, who is now 18, said Algra sent him a Facebook message in April 2011 on the first day of spring break, asking if he wanted to go swimming at the school.
They met at the high school at least four times that week, according to the 18-year-old's testimony. He said they engaged sexual acts in the school shower on at least one of those days.
The sexual relationship continued for about six months, according to testimony. The relationship ended, he testified, when the allegations involving the younger teen became known.
The 18-year-old described having sexual encounters in Algra's classroom and a Delta Township parking lot as well as Algra's apartment in Grand Ledge. There were more than 20, he testified.
The 18-year-old also described one sexual encounter at the apartment that he said involved Algra and Algra's roommate.
Reynolds focused his questions on dates of the alleged sexual encounters with both students. After the hearing, he said Algra can prove he was somewhere else on at least one of the dates.