Teacher charged, resigns
A Forest Park High School teacher was arrested Tuesday after police learned he had two 16-year-old girls come to his home to watch movies and drink beer.–
Michael Williams, 27, of 15352 Inlet Place in Montclair, is charged with supplying alcohol to minors and contributing to the delinquency of minors, since the girls were out past the county’s midnight curfew.–
The students drank beer at Williams’ house on several occasions between August and October, said Prince William police spokesman Dennis Mangan.–
“There was a rumor all through the school that this was going on — that’s how he got caught,” said Mangan, who said a student told a school counselor about the rumors. The counselor contacted police.–
Williams had worked at Forest Park since the beginning of the school year and hasn’t taught at any other county schools, said Dr. Ed Kelly, superintendent for Prince William County Schools.–
He said the school learned about the incidents a few weeks ago and told Williams that charges would be brought against him. Williams then resigned.–
“It’s always sad when these kinds of things happen, when role models behave in this manner,” Kelly said.–
Officials at Forest Park High School could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.–
Steve Keen, school board representative for the Woodbridge district, said he didn’t know the details of Williams’ arrest or his work at the school. But he pointed out that Forest Park went to the police with the allegations.–
“The school did the right thing, took the right course,” Keen said.–
Mangan said Williams is a world geography teacher.–
Both of the charges against him are Class 1 misdemeanors, punishable by up to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine.–
Court date information was not available Wednesday.–
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Staff writer Kate Bissell can be reached at (703) 878-8068.