Video: Former Bellevue teacher arrested in sex investigation

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BELLEVUE, Wash. – A teacher suspected of having sexual contact with one of his students has been arrested.

The case involves a 16-year-old student and a teacher at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart – a private girls’ school. The teacher has been teaching digital media and running the yearbook.

According to an affidavit for a search warrant, the teacher last month admitted to the head of the school that his relationship with the student had gone beyond what a normal teacher-student relationship should be. He didn’t mention sexual contact at that time, but said they had shared hugs and kisses.

When given a choice of being fired or resigning, the teacher resigned.

The affidavit says school staff checked the teacher’s school computers and found pictures of naked girls and women.

It also says the girl’s mother, who had gotten suspicious in recent months, accessed her daughter's G-mail account and found references to a tryst in the Westin Hotel in Bellevue. She also found an e-mail conversation in which the teacher told the student he “loved having the chance to truly make love to you the way I have always wanted.”

A Forest Ridge spokesperson says the case is now in the hands of police and that the school faculty needs to take care of their students and families and move ahead.

"I think the school will handle it totally appropriately and protect the student and protect the rights of the teacher," said Cynthia Lachman, the grandmother of another student.

The school says the teacher had a background check and performance reviews. They're confident they did everything they could.

"I'm sad. I hope the girl’s OK. I'm sad that the teacher got himself into that situation," said Kara Payseno, a Sophomore at Forest Ridge. "(The school) told our parents. They were very open about it and really nice and I think they handled it very well."

The search warrant affidavit also mentions the student and teacher talking about a travel itinerary to Europe, so there may have been plans that went far beyond a hotel room in Seattle.