Harwood Union High School substitute teacher charged with rape
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Jeremy Mullins |
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By Daphne Larkin Times Argus Staff - Published: June 1, 2007
BARRE – An 18-year-old St. Michael's College student, who works as a substitute teacher at Harwood Union High School, has been charged with sexually assaulting an eighth-grade girl in his vehicle during a school play.
Jeremy Mullins of South Duxbury pleaded innocent in Vermont District Court on Thursday to the charge of sexual assault on a person under 16. He was released on conditions.
According to statements made by the victim to police, she and Mullins had been e-mailing each other through a MySpace account over the past couple of months.
The girl said she had a crush on Mullins, but that some of his e-mails made her uncomfortable, according to the affidavit; police have a copy of a "sex survey" Mullins sent her to fill out.
Also in the affidavit are copies of e-mails sent from Mullins to the student that try to arrange meetings in the school, saying "maybe we could have a little fun … I think we could meet up in the door stairs and figure something out."
The girl told police that on April 7 she was dropped off outside Harwood Union High School to watch a school play, and Mullins was outside the school.
According to the affidavit, Mullins got the girl into his vehicle, drove to another parking lot, and eventually raped her.
The girl reported the incident, and police executed a search warrant on Mullins' home and dorm room where they seized computers and other items, including the clothes he was reportedly wearing the night of the alleged rape.
Outside the courtroom Mullins declined comment.
Contact Daphne Larkin at (802) 479-0191 ext.1171 or daphne.larkin@timesargus.com.
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