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Teen Student Defends Teacher Arrested For Their Alleged Sexual Relationship, Says 'He Has Never Been A Threat'
The 17-year-old argued to a judge that an order of separation between her and former teacher Tyler David Millward wasn't necessary.
A Michigan teen defended her former teacher in court on Monday after he was fired and arrested for allegedly having a sexual relationship with her.
The 17-year-old student, who remains unnamed, defended her teacher, Tyler David Millward, to a judge, saying that an order of separation was not necessary, according to reporting by the Battle Creek Enquirer in Michigan.
"He has never been a threat and he has never hurt me," the female student said. "He never told me to say anything or push me to do anything against my will. I wish to have contact."
The 29-year-old high school instructor, who is married, was arrested on Friday following an investigation into his alleged inappropriate relationship with the female student.
He was charged with three counts of lying to police and using a computer to communicate with another to commit the crime of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to court records.
“The charges are a result from the investigation that was opened in January 2018, which Millward was involved in a teacher/student relationship,” police wrote in a statement obtained by the Battle Creek Enquirer. “There are several aspects of the investigation that are ongoing.”
Prosecutors in the case have alleged that over a six-month period, Millward used his phone to communicate with the female student to arrange sex, the Michigan paper reported. Millward is also accused of lying to police about texting with the girl, taking her to a hotel and having sex with the student.
Millward was in his third year at Athens High School in Athens, Michigan and was fired in February, according to the school district.
Citing that he was not a teacher anymore, Millward’s defense attorney Sarissa Montague told the court that her client was no longer a threat to anyone, the Battle Creek Enquirer reported.
"The underlying allegations involve a relationship that he allegedly had with a student," Montague told the judge, according to the Enquirer. "That is really what is going on here. He is no longer a teacher and the threat of him being a danger is not there."
Millward’s next appearance in court will be on Aug. 2 in relation to a domestic violence charge from April. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary examination on July 30 in connection with his other charges.
[Photo: Calhoun County Police]
