Teacher accused of sexual contact with student surrenders

Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 14, 2006 at midnight

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A Brighton Charter High School teacher accused of having sexual contact with a boy while chaperoning a school camping trip turned herself in at the Jefferson County Jail this morning.

This is the second time in less than a year that an adult connected to the school has been investigated for having a sexual encounter with a student.

The teacher, Carrie McCandless, 29, is the wife of school Principal Chris McCandless. She has been fired from the school.

McCandless arrived at the jail with a bondsman at 9 a.m. to answer a warrant issued for her arrest by a Larimer County judge. She was released at noon after posting $20,000 bond.

Her first court date has been set for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in Larimer County.

She took a group of students to Estes Park the last weekend in October and allegedly wound up in a room alone with a 17-year-old boy at the YMCA of the Rockies.

An adult male was scheduled to go but had to cancel at the last minute, making Carrie McCandless the sole adult chaperone, police said.

After interviewing about a dozen people, police brought the case to the Larimer County District Attorney's Office last week and recommended charges of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

"I think the young man is very confused, and he's understandably hesitant to talk about it," Brighton police Chief Clint Blackhurst said.

McCandless faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.

Police filed similar charges against former Brighton Charter substitute teacher David Wayne Mundy Jr. in June.

Police say the 31-year-old was involved with three girls ages 14 to 16 at his apartment last New Year's Eve.

"The girls allege that he was attempting to kiss them and fondle their breasts," Brighton police spokesman John Bradley said.

Mundy, who was working as a Brighton firefighter at the time, is the son of David Mundy Sr., chairman of the school's board of directors.

He has pleaded guilty to sex assault on a child and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, 9News reported.

He resigned his firefighting job in October because of the case and faces up to 12 years in prison at his sentencing in January, the station reported.

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