MT. MORRIS TOWNSHIP, MI -- The attorney representing a Hamady High/Middle school janitor accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student claims his client did nothing wrong and that the relationship was consensual.

Flint attorney Frank J. Manley said his client, Jordan Tyler White, was having a legal, consensual relationship with the 16-year-old female student when he was arrested by Mt. Morris Township police on criminal sexual conduct charges.

White, 23, of Thetford Township, was arraigned Thursday, Jan. 16, by Genesee District Judge John Conover on 11 charges, including multiple counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, child sexual abusive activity and using a computer to commit a crime.

Prosecutors allege that White used his employment with the school to have sex with the female student. Westwood Heights Superintendent Salli Stevens said that White worked at the school as a contractor and was not directly employed as a district. His employment has been terminated, Stevens said.

Manley denied the claim, saying that White's position at the school played no role in the relationship.

"Our position is the prosecutor is stretching the law to take advantage of a personal matter to create a headline," Manley said.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton declined to comment on Manley's claims or specifics of the case.

Mt. Morris police Detective Diana Mills says her office was made aware of the situation by an anonymous tip, adding that the school district wasn't informed of the allegations until White was arrested.

Mills said that illicit photos were shared via text message between the two, which led to additional charges.

"Anybody who knows about relationships between kids these days knows they involve texts," Manley said.

White is also facing two counts of possession of a weapon in a weapon-free school zone after authorities said they discovered an AR-15 rifle and a 9-millimeter handgun in his car at the school. Mills said the weapons were in a gun case in the back seat. There were also hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Manley said White, an Army reservist who spent three years in active duty, including one year of combat in Afghanistan, legally owns the weapons and was at the shooting range prior to his arrest.

There are no accusations that White intended to commit any acts of violence at the school.

White is being held on $1.9 million cash or surety bond, according to court records. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. A preliminary exam is scheduled for Jan. 28.