UPDATED @ 1:07 PM 10th Grade Science Teacher In Houston County School System Arrested For Sex With Student

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 41535Posted by: RStokes334-790-1729Date: Apr 21 2012 9:39 AM

HOUSTON COUNTY: On Friday evening parents left their home to attend a ball game where the father was one of the coaches for a baseball team.

The father left something at home. The mother returned home to pickup the item. The mother did not see her 16 year old daughter and opened her bedroom door to saw a man in the room with her, naked.

The man fled the house, naked and ran into the woodline.

Houston County Sheriff Deputies were called to the scene and responded. A perimter was established in the 5000 block of Third Avenue and a search was established.

Dale County Chief Deputy Tim McDonald and Dle County Investigator Joe Weaver went airbound the Dale County/Houston County Helicopter unit flying over the seach area as Houston County Sheriff bloodhound units were tracking on the ground.

At about 9:00 PM the suspect, identified as Robert Lee Michel, came out of the woodline on Third Avenue near Knoxville Drive to Houston County Sheriff Deputy Mike Benton and surrendered. Michel was clad only in garbage bags wrapped around himself like diapers.

Houston County Sheriff Deputies conducted an investigation.

Robert Lee Michels has been placed in the Houston County Jail on three counts of "School Employee Engaging In Sex Act or Deviant Sexual Intercourse With a Student Under The Age of 19 year". ( COde of Alabama 13A-6-81 ), a Class B Felony. Each county carried a minimum of two years and not less than 20 years in the Alabama State Penitentiary.

At this time all three counts involve the same victim.

Should anyone else have any information they are urged to contact Houston County Sheriff Investigator Sgt. Bill Raferty. After hours the communications department number is 334-677-4808, during business hours Sgt. Rafferty's Office is 334-677-4809.

Houston County Sheriff Andy Hughes praised members of the Houston County Sheriff Patrol, Criminal Investigators, K-9 Bloodhounds and the joint Dale County Sheriff/Houston County Sheriff Air Support Unit for the quick response and team work in this investigation.

Houston County District Court Judge Benjamin Lewis has ordered a no bond on Robert Lee Michels. Michels is currently being held in the Houston County Jail.

Robert Lee Michels is a teacher at Rehobeth High School where he teaches Science in the 10th grade. The principal, staff and students are stunned and devestated over the allegations of this incident.

Rehobeth High School is a great school and this is stunning to all involved.

These are only allegations and Michels has not been convicted at this time.

UPDATED @ 1:07 PM

The father IS NOT a baseball coach at Rehobeth. He coached volunteer rec ball.