MARION COUNTY — A 35-year-old former Odin school teacher has been released from the Marion County Jail, after posting $5,000 cash bond on a charge of having sex with one of her students.

Lisa A. Tate (Source: MCSO)
Lisa A. Tate
(Source: MCSO)

Lisa Tate turned herself in Tuesday morning to the Marion County Jail, after being charged Friday with Class 1 felony criminal sexual assault to a 17-year-old Odin High School student.

Tate was a science teacher and athletic director at the school at the time of the alleged sexual assault that reportedly was consensual, but because of Tate’s position of authority over the student would make it a criminal offense.

An investigation conducted by the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, along with the Department of Children and Family Services indicated Tate had sex with two 17-year-old boys, but prosecutors have chosen to only charge her with one, as there would be no increase in the severity of the charge with an additional charge.

According to Marion County State’s Attorney Matt Wilzbach, the investigation revealed multiple sex acts involving Tate and a student she directly taught, and who was also an athlete, occurred between March 27, 2015 and April 25, 2015.

Wilzbach says his office is in possession of multiple photos indicating Tate and the student were together last month, but he notes the photos do not actually show the two having sex. It was that same weekend the photos were allegedly taken, however, that Tate submitted her resignation to Superintendent Mike Conlon, and the same weekend allegations against her were being made.

Tate had taught at the school for 11 years, and had recently been considered for a raise and promotion. A substitute teacher has been assigned to the class fort the remainder of the school year.

This is the second time Odin school has been the focus of an investigation involving allegations of sex between a teacher and a student. In 2011 Kelly Ebmeyer pleaded guilty to criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a 15-year-old female student, who ultimately became pregnant.

 

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