New Sex-Assault Charges Filed Against Teacher

Friday, May 18th 2007, 11:46 am

By: News On 6

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) _ Prosecutors have filed two more sexual assault charges against a high school teacher accused of having sex with a 17-year-old on her school's football team.

Authorities allege 33-year-old Darcie Esson had sex with the teen in a Glenwood Springs motel room last November while the Elizabeth High School football team was out of town for a playoff game.

Elizabeth High is in Parker, about 135 miles east of Glenwood Springs. An arrest warrant affidavit says Esson had no official role in the team's trip.

Yesterday, prosecutors filed one new count of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, and one new count alleging sexual assault with a pattern of abuse.

Esson already faced one count of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust. That was filed in December.

District Attorney Martin Beeson declined to discuss the new charges. He would say only that they resulted from information uncovered May 11th.

The arrest warrant affidavit alleges Esson had sex with the teen while her two children and a teenage baby sitter slept in the same room.

Esson was suspended from her teaching job in December. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 19th.