High school teacher arrested for alleged sexual contact with teen

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A Chippewa Valley High School teacher is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a female student.

Christopher David Cowles, 23, is been charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

He has pleaded not-guilty and is being held in the Macomb County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

He has also been placed on administrative leave by the school district and is barred from attending any school events.

The district said Cowles was hired in January 2014, as a CTE (Career Technical Education) teacher to fill a vacancy. As part of the district's hiring process, Cowles was fingerprinted and underwent a criminal background check -- which he passed.