CAMDEN, Del.- Delaware State Police have arrested a teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a student at Caesar Rodney High School in Camden.
A preliminary investigation revealed that Richard L. Howell II, 50, of Wyoming, Del., was sexually involved with a 17-year-old female student, between as early as March 2014 until late December, police said.
According to the school's website, Howell is a physical education and health teacher at Caesar Rodney High, as well as the head wrestling coach.
Officers with the Delaware State Police's Criminal Investigations Unit said Howell and the student engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior at least nine different times on school grounds as well as several times at his Wyoming home.
Howell voluntarily turned himself into detectives Wednesday afternoon, police said. He was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, 15 counts of first degree sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust and two counts of fourth degree rape. Upon his arraignment at JP2, he was committed to James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in lieu of $550,000 secured bond. Howell was also ordered to have no contact with the victim or anyone under the age of 18.
Caesar Rodney Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald said in a statement that Howell has been suspended with pay. He also said district officials are cooperating with police in this investigation.
