Teacher accused of sex assault

Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News

Friday, July 28, 2006

LAKEWOOD - A teacher at Jefferson Hills, a residential youth treatment center, is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old student.

Michelle Leigh Tolar, 26, of Denver, was arrested Wednesday and is being held without bail at Jefferson County Jail. She is facing one count of sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust and one count of sexual assault.

"We have laws in place to protect juveniles for a reason," said Steve Davis, Lakewood police spokesman. "No matter how appropriate the juvenile feels about the relationship, it is illegal for a 26-year-old teacher to have a sexual relationship with a 16- year-old."

Jefferson Hills is a residential treatment center for youths ages 12 to 18. The teens, many of whom have social, emotional or behavioral problems, are typically ordered there by the courts or referred by the county's Department of Human Services.

A social worker at the facility brought the alleged relationship to the attention of investigators.

Davis said he believes that Tolar's relationship with the student had been going on for a couple of months. The alleged sex was consensual and took place at the center.

"It's always concerning to me when allegations like this are made," said Jeff Holliday, acting executive director for Jefferson Hills. "We take it very seriously."

Tolar had worked at Jefferson Hills as an English teacher from Aug. 8, 2004, to July 18.

She is no longer employed there, but Holliday would not say whether Tolar was fired or resigned.

Court records show that Tolar was arrested on a charge of drunken driving in Logan County in 1996 and speeding in Larimer County in 1999. She pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in Logan County and was given two years' probation.