Sleepy Eye teacher gets jail for sex with student

Star Tribune

Last update: November 11, 2009 - 8:54 PM

A former high school teacher in southern Minnesota has been sentenced to six months in jail for having numerous sexual encounters with one of his female students.

As part of Calvin C. Collum's sentencing Tuesday in Brown County District Court, the former Sleepy Eye High School teacher also must register as a predatory sex offender.

Collum, 47, of New Ulm, had pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Police said that classmates told them that Collum and the 16-year-old girl planned to move to Connecticut some day when she turned 19 and have children, having already picked names for the kids. "The suspect would work these names into his class lectures to delight the victim," a criminal complaint filed in March said.

The complaint added that one classmate told police that the girl and Collum often communicated by texting and through Facebook. The classmate knew the victim had spent weekends at the teacher's home.

Another classmate said Collum would often direct compliments toward the victim, including references to how her jeans fit.

PAUL WALSH