APPLE VALLEY, Minn., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- A teacher on leave from a private high school in Minnesota faces charges she had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl who had been her student.

Authorities said Melissa Diana Koehn, 30, of Kenosha, Wis., was charged by the Dakota County Attorney's office Tuesday with three felony counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and freed on $10,000 bail, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Wednesday.


An Apple Valley police officer said he found Koehn and the teen kissing in a car in a parking lot near a soccer field Saturday and became suspicious because of the apparent age difference between the two. He notified the girl's parents and turned the case over to a detective.

Koehn had been the teen's teacher and coach last year at St. Croix Lutheran High School in West St. Paul, authorities said. She continued to see the girl after starting her leave of absence from the school in June, sometimes sleeping over at the teen's home, police said. The girl still attends the school.

According to the criminal complaint, the girl's parents told authorities they believed she had slept on the floor of their daughter's bedroom and were unaware of any sexual activity.

Under Minnesota law, 16 is the age of consent for a sexual relationship. However, teachers, coaches or others in position of authority over a young person are prohibited from sexual contact with someone age 16 or 17.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 9 in Hastings.