Charges: Teacher Had Sexual Relationship With Student

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A teacher at Spectrum High School in Elk River has been charged, after he admitted to having a sexual relationship with one of his students.

The Maple Grove Police Department received a request to investigate the alleged relationship between a 17-year-old girl and her teacher, Matthew Craig Ellsworth, of St. Paul.

According to the complaint, the 36-year-old teacher also hired the student as a pet sitter, where she would stay overnight at his home. The student told police they kissed for the first time in June and slept together a few weeks after that.

She told police they both knew the relationship was illegal and talked about waiting until she turned 18.

Officials at the high school told police Ellsworth was an employee at the school and had acted as a mentor for the student's senior project, which kept the two in contact through the summer.

Ellsworth will have his first court appearance on Nov. 15.