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Affidavit cites romance between teacher, student

Fired instructor advised of charges in alleged affair with 17-year-old

Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 6, 2006 at midnight

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FORT COLLINS - Former Brighton Charter High School teacher Carrie McCandless carried on a romance with a 17-year-old student, which included the exchange of 76 text messages in a single day, according to her arrest affidavit.

She also supplied the students she was chaperoning on a late-October field trip with alcohol and "did everything except have sex" with the male student during the Estes Park outing, the affidavit said.

McCandless' behavior during that weekend ultimately led to felony charges against her of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and contributing to the delinquency of a minor by providing at least one student with alcohol.

The 29-year-old was fired from the school where her husband, Chris McCandless, is principal.

McCandless was formally advised of the charges against her in Larimer County District Court on Tuesday.

The affidavit, which was unsealed after the hearing, details what allegedly happened on the overnight hiking trip with about a half-dozen students and how the school reacted to the situation.

School officials did not report the incident to police, who first learned about it from a television reporter. Former school board chairman David Mundy Sr. has been charged with tampering with at least three witnesses or victims and failing to report child abuse.

Mundy resigned from the board on Friday. The remaining board members have reassured Brighton school district officials, who hold their charter, that similar incidents would be reported immediately in the future.

The boy has told police that he started calling and text messaging McCandless in early October, when they started planning the trip and were "very excited."

Phone records reveal that McCandless and the boy exchanged 76 text messages on Oct. 10, according to the affidavit.

In one exchange, the boy wrote that he was cold, and she responded, "Just pretend you're here sweating with me."

McCandless and the boy professed their love to each other, the boy told police. McCandless told the boy that she was having trouble in her marriage, the affidavit said.

On the afternoon before the school trip to Estes Park, McCandless and the boy "made out" in a car outside a Sam's Club for about 45 minutes, he told police.

The next morning, Carrie McCandless, the boy, and about a half-dozen other students drove to Estes Park and went on a hike. During the hike, McCandless and the boy lagged behind, the affidavit said.

The boy brought a bottle of Everclear grain alcohol on the trip that he told police "they were all drinking." He said McCandless also "brought up a bottle of Jack Daniels for them to drink" and shared it with him.

Other students told police that they observed McCandless and the boy sneaking away repeatedly, presumably to smoke and drink, for 30 to 45 minutes at a time.

That night, after the other students had gone to bed, McCandless and the boy "made out" on the floor in the front room of the cabin, where another boy was sleeping on a nearby couch. The boy involved with McCandless later told police that they simulated sex with their clothes on.

He said it was the closest they ever got to having sex.

Another student told police she overheard the boy and McCandless talking about the first time they had sex and smoked pot. Around 2 a.m., she walked in on them "making out" as she made her way to the bathroom.

When the girl came out of the bathroom, McCandless and the boy were sitting up with a blanket around them, the affidavit said.

They "did everything except have sex" and it was obvious to everyone what was going on, a friend of the boy's told police.

On Oct. 30, the Monday after the trip, authorities say Chris McCandless called Mundy to say he had an emergency and needed him at the school.

Mundy would later tell police he met with Chris and Carrie McCandless that day. At the meeting, Carrie McCandless told Mundy that a student "leaned over and kissed and hugged her" on the camping trip, but that she backed away and told him it was inappropriate.

Mundy also reviewed a note passed back and forth that day between the boy and Carrie McCandless.

Another teacher, Tory Henry, had obtained the note after watching Carrie McCandless and the student giggling, being "flirtatious" and passing it back and forth.

Henry sent another teacher into the women's bathroom after Carrie McCandless tore up the note. The teacher found the note in a bathroom wastebasket.

Henry pieced the note back together and gave it to Chris McCandless, who shared it with Mundy, according to the affidavit.

"It was awesome, the best," the boy wrote in the note.

Carrie McCandless responded that she was "(messed) up in the head."

The boy then apologized, but Carrie McCandless responded, "It's not like it was against my will . . . it was totally fun."

Neither Mundy nor any other parties involved volunteered their findings to police, who first found out about the incident when contacted Nov. 2 by a TV reporter.

Mundy is scheduled to be formally advised of the charges against him this morning in Adams County District Court.

According to the affidavit, the boy and his mother met with police Nov. 3, after police had launched an investigation.

Carrie McCandless declined to speak to police, the affidavit said.

While walking out of court Tuesday, she again declined comment.

Chronology of events

A timeline of the alleged relationship between a teacher and student at Brighton Charter High School, according to the arrest affidavit and other reports.

Early October: Social studies teacher and cheerleading coach Carrie McCandless, 29, and a 17-year-old student become involved romantically. Over time, they profess their love for one another.

Oct. 10: They exchange 76 text messages.

Oct. 27: They "make out" in a Sam's Club parking lot.

Oct. 28: McCandless is the sole chaperone on a school-sponsored overnight hiking trip to a cabin in Estes Park. She shares Jack Daniels whiskey with the boy. After the other students are in bed, she and the boy simulate sex on the floor of the front room of the cabin while another boy sleeps on the couch. A female student overhears them talking about the first time they had sex and smoked pot. She later walks in on them.

Oct. 30: McCandless tells Brighton Charter High School board Chairman David Mundy that the boy made advances to her, but she rebuffed him. Mundy also reviews a note written that day in which McCandless tells the boy "it was totally fun."

Nov. 2: A TV reporter informs Brighton police that a sexual assault may have occurred on the trip. A detective interviews Mundy.

Nov. 3: Police interview the boy and his mother.

Nov. 14: McCandless, who was fired, is arrested on charges of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Mundy also is arrested on charges of tampering with witnesses or a victim and failing to report child abuse.

Tuesday: McCandless is formally advised of the charges against her.

Today: Mundy is expected to be advised of the charges against him.

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