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This article was published 12/11/2014 (2139 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 36-year-old Manitoba school employee has admitted to having a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old student that was eventually exposed by another teen in the community.

Kristina Richelle Lies pleaded guilty to sexual interference Wednesday during a court hearing in The Pas. The Crown dropped two additional charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation.

Lies will be sentenced Jan. 15. She remains free on bail.

RCMP arrested Lies in August 2013 after reports "a teenage youth may have been sexually assaulted by an employee at a Flin Flon school." Lies, who had worked for three years as a parent-child co-ordinator at Ruth Betts Community School, was immediately suspended.

Crown attorney Todd Rambow outlined the facts during Wednesday's hearing. He said Lies was in a position of trust over the male student and began an "inappropriate" relationship around February 2013.

Over the next two months, the pair exchanged thousands of text messages that were often sexual in nature, court was told.

"She would periodically tell him she loved him and cared about him," said Rambow.

They began regularly seeing each other outside of school, with the teen even sneaking away from a sleepover one night to meet Lies nearby.

"They made out in the back alley for a period of time, which consisted of kissing and holding each other close," said Rambow.

Another youth saw this, which ultimately led to word spreading around the community about what was happening.

Lies broke down in tears Wednesday when the judge asked her if she understood what she was pleading guilty to.

"I was out walking my dog; I got a text that he wanted to talk. A conversation ensued about him wanting to kiss me. Before we parted, I reached in to give him a hug and we kissed," said Lies. "I'm not sure how long. It wasn't a peck."

The Crown elected to proceed by summary conviction on the charge, which means Lies faces a maximum sentence of 18 months in jail. There is a minimum sentence of 14 days custody.

More details about the offence will be presented at the sentencing hearing.

School officials previously told the Free Press Lies was considered a support staffer, not a classroom teacher, who worked for the division on contract. Her duties as "community connector" included working in the school's child and family room. Lies also helped coach the school's basketball team, court was told. None of the criminal incidents occurred on school property.

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