CONWAY — A former Vilonia High School teacher waived a scheduled court appearance Monday, resulting in an innocent plea to a charge of first-degree sexual assault.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Charles Finkenbinder said Charles Samuel Harger, 45, is to appear in Faulkner County Circuit Court for a pretrial hearing Feb. 14.
The Faulkner County sheriff's office said earlier this month that Harger was a teacher in 2006 at Vilonia and apparently had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl there. At that time, Harger lived in Conway.
Harger is now employed as a science teacher at Sheridan High School. Doug West, assistant superintendent of Sheridan Public Schools, said Monday that the district has suspended Harger with pay while it waits to see what happens with the case.
Harger is free on $20,000 bond.
The sheriff's office has said it will not discuss details of the alleged relationship because the investigation is ongoing.
Arkansas, Pages 10 on 10/23/2007