Police say Michigan teacher `wed' 14-year-old girl in pagan ritual

SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. (AP) _ A teacher and a 14-year-old former female student whom she is accused of sexually assaulting participated in witchcraft together and even ``wed'' in a pagan ritual, police

Friday, December 3rd 2004, 7:53 pm

By: News On 6

SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. (AP) _ A teacher and a 14-year-old former female student whom she is accused of sexually assaulting participated in witchcraft together and even ``wed'' in a pagan ritual, police said.

Elizabeth Miklosovic, 36, a teacher at South Haven's Baseline Middle School, was arraigned Thursday on a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

If convicted, Miklosovic faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. She remained jailed Friday on $100,000 bond.

Miklosovic, a seventh-grade language arts teacher, lives with another woman and their adopted son, authorities said. She was placed on leave from her job.

The student told police that she and Miklosovic had about five sexual encounters from June to October in the teacher's home and two parks.

Miklosovic has no previous criminal record in Michigan, state police records show.

Detective Sgt. Diane Oppenheim of the state police post in South Haven said the student _ who was described as having emotional problems _ came to trust the teacher so much, she agreed to ``marry'' the woman in a pagan ritual.

``They also participated in witchcraft together,'' Oppenheim said.

Both Miklosovic and her lawyer declined to comment.