Maranda Faris

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

A teacher's assistant and preacher in Chester County has been released on bond after allegations of rape and sexual battery of an 18-year-old student.

Court documents say Mike Ulmer, 53, picked the Chester County High School student up from school Feb. 16 and brought her to his home.

The student told police that she sometimes goes to Ulmer's house in Henderson to clean.

Court documents say Ulmer told the girl to go to his office in a detached garage. The girl was in the garage when she says Ulmer came in, tied her wrists with a rope and ran the rope through a hook screwed into the ceiling, according to court documents.

She told police that Ulmer then sexually assaulted her, according to court documents.

Ulmer, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Henderson, is charged with two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Records show he was released from custody on $250,000 bond and is scheduled to return to court May 9.

Chester County Director of Schools Troy Kilzer said Tuesday that Ulmer has been suspended without pay, pending the outcome of the case. Kilzer said Ulmer was employed as a teacher's assistant in the in-school suspension program.

Kilzer said Ulmer was suspended Friday after the school system learned of the allegations against Ulmer.

None of the allegations occurred on campus, Kilzer said.

Reach Maranda at (731) 425-9657 or at mfaris2@jacksonsun.com. Follow her on Twitter: @MarandaFaris