Teacher faces sex crime accusations

By MATT TROUTMAN

The Record-Eagle

TRAVERSE CITY (MCT) — A local teacher faces accusations he carried on a sexual relationship with a former Suttons Bay High School student.

Leelanau County authorities on Monday filed an arrest warrant for Scott Lee Tompkins, 63, of Maple City, on three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Court documents filed today in 86th District Court state that Tompkins, sometime between 2004 and 2006, began a sexual relationship with a student, then 16, at Suttons Bay High School. The relationship continued until after her senior year, the documents state.

Leelanau County Prosecutor Joe Hubbell said the accusations are connected to a probe by Traverse City police officers into an incident at Tompkins' current job at Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District's Career-Tech Center.

Tompkins faces an assault charge in that case after a female former student, 17, of Traverse City, said he gave her an unwanted kiss. He was placed on paid leave from TBAISD after the original accusations arose. That paid leave lasted until early October and Thompkins has been on unpaid leave since.

"It's not unnatural for people to come forward," Hubbell said.