VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN 6) — Stephanie McCrea, the Evergreen High School teacher accused of raping a student, turned herself in to detectives Tuesday afternoon, appeared in court Wednesday morning, and posted the bond for her $40,000 bail Wednesday afternoon.
McCrea, 35, faces allegations of third-degree rape of a child, tampering with a witness and unlawful misconduct with a child.
Prosecutors said in court McCrea was placed on paid leave by the Evergreen School District once they were alerted of the investigation being conducted by the Vancouver Police Department.
While on leave, McCrea contacted the 15-year-old victim and told him to create a fake Facebook account, prosecutors said. McCrea also created a fake Facebook account for herself and communicated with the alleged victim during the investigation.
McCrea made promises about them being together forever, prosecutors said in court. She also said she coached the victim on what he should say if he was contacted by detectives, prosecutors said, and that if she was caught, she would commit suicide.
Prosecutors released few details about the actual sexual activity in court, but said McCrea was a person of trust at Evergreen High School. They said she took the victim out to the movies and that at least one case of sexual contact occurred inside her home.
Newly released court documents indicate the victim had been in a sexual relationship with McCrea since the start of Dec. 2014. He told police the relationship included kissing, oral sex and sexual intercourse, court documents state.
The reports of sexual conduct are said to have occurred at the school and at McCrea’s house, court documents state. The victim told police he and McCrea, his drama teacher, met in her office several times a week where they would kiss before or after school. Records show McCrea also performed oral sex on the boy in her office.
Her defense attorney said McCrea was born and raised in Portland. He said that prosecutors were trying to make a political statement by asking for bail to be set at $500,000.
He ordered that McCrea have no contact with the victim in the case. According to her defense attorney, McCrea has a 9-year-old child.
Some of McCrea’s former students attended Wednesday’s court hearing. One said she was not there to support McCrea, but rather “to find out more about the allegations.” She described her time with McCrea as educational and “engaging.”More information will be posted on this story throughout the day. Photo of Stephanie McCrea courtesy of The Columbian.