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OGDEN — A former Highland Junior High teacher has been charged with raping a former student.

Justin James Davenport, 34, of Ogden, was charged in 2nd District Court Tuesday with rape, a first-degree felony; forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony; and forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.

Davenport had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl while he was a teacher at Ogden's Highland Junior High starting in January of 2013, according to Ogden police. The ninth-grade girl was a student and teacher's aide for Davenport, charging documents state.

Davenport only taught one year in the Ogden School District before he was fired. He was suspended at the end of the 2013 school year after other teachers found Davenport alone in a portable classroom with the girl on numerous occasions, the charges state. The girl said she would often eat lunch alone with Davenport.

An investigation by the Ogden School District "revealed numerous policy violations for his relationship with the victim," according to the charges. He was fired from the district on May 24, 2013.

But police and prosecutors say the sexual misconduct continued until November 2014. Court records show Davenport's wife filed for divorce in October of 2014.

District officials released a statement Wednesday saying Davenport was a geography and history teacher for seven months starting in August of 2012.

"In respect for the continuing legal proceedings and the parties involved, the district declines to provide further information at this time," the statement said.

Ogden police were contacted in 2013 and investigated Davenport's relationship with the girl. But when the special victims unit interviewed the girl at that time, she did not admit to having sexual contact with Davenport, said Ogden Police Lt. Tim Scott.

On Feb. 17, the girl's mother contacted police saying that her daughter, now 17, had since admitted having a sexual relationship with Davenport, according to charging documents.

A warrant for Davenport's arrest was issued on Tuesday. He was booked into the Weber County Jail later that day.

It was not immediately known Wednesday how Davenport has been employed since 2013.

Contributing: Alex Cabrero

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