Bad Bad Teacher

(2/21/08 – Initial BBT Report)

Colleen Katharine Solberg, 38, a former education associate at Iowa City West High School in Iowa City, Iowa has been arrested and charged with lascivious acts with a 17-year old male student.

It is alleged that Solberg passed notes and poems to the boy, bought him a cell phone and had sex with him on three occasions.

It is also alleged that Solberg admitted to police that she had “crossed a line” by having sexual contact with the victim between June and September of last year.

Solberg who had taught at the school for two years was reportedly fired in November.

Solberg was released on her recognizance following an initial court appearance and faces up to a year in jail and a fine ranging from $250 to $1,500 if convicted of the misdemeanor offense.

Reportedly the student left West High after April 2007 and was not enrolled at the time of the incidents.

04/25/08 – Arraignment and Not Guilty Plea

Collen Solberg appeared for her arraignment and entered a not guilty plea.

A pre-trial conference is set for June 4 and Solberg’s trial is set for June 16th.

06/19/08 – Charges Dismissed

Charges against Colleen Solberg have been dismissed, reportedly because prosecutors could not get the alleged victim to testify at trial.

05/05/09 – Witness Tampering Charges Filed

Colleen K. Solberg has been charged with tampering with a witness while awaiting trial from February to June last year.

A judge in June dismissed the charge in Johnson County District Court after prosecutors said they had not been able to serve the victim with a subpoena.

It is now alleged that Solberg was in contact with the witness on a daily basis while awaiting trial last year.

It is further alleged that Solberg was paying the rent and security deposit for his apartment, as well as covering the cost of hotel rooms for the alleged and his friends.

And prosecutors allege that that the alleged victim also received a $6,000 check from Solberg.

If convicted, Solberg faces a maximum of up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Solberg’s preliminary hearing is set for May 26th.

References:

Former teacher’s aide charged with witness tampering (05/04/09)

Sex charge against teacher’s aide dismissed (06/19/08)

Sex charge against teacher’s aide dismissed (06/19/08) (Same report – second source)

Teacher accused of sex with student pleads not guilty (04/25/08)

Lascivious acts accused in Iowa City student-associate case (2/21/08)

Iowa City teacher aid charged with having sex with teen (2/21/08)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 at 2:30 pm and is filed under Charges Dismissed, FE-MV, High Schools, Iowa, Teacher's Aides. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.