A former Tacoma high school math teacher charged with child rape has been warned not to contact her students on Facebook.
Meredith Powell, 24, was back in a Pierce county courtroom on Tuesday for arraignment on a new charge of sexual misconduct with a minor after a fourth student from Lincoln High School came forward claiming he had sex with Powell in her classroom in early 2013.
Three other students, all males, claim they had sexual contact with Powell in January of this year. She was charged in early February with third-degree child rape and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes in addition to the new misconduct charge.
Powell was freed without bail while she awaits trial but prosecutors asked judge Bryan Chushcoff to set new bail at $150,000 after Powell posted a message to her former students on a Facebook page called Free Powell.
Powell posted a thank you to students who expressed support for her after her arrest. The page was set up by a ninth grader from Lincoln high.
“Judges, when they say no contact with a minor they mean no contact of any kind, any place, including social media,” said Pierce county prosecuting attorney Mark Lindquist.
Chuschcoff allowed Powell to remain free on her own recognizance but warned her anymore posts on Facebook or other social media sites directed at minors would mean she would be taken into custody and held in the Pierce County jail while she waits for her trial.
Powell’s defense attorney downplayed the new charge against his client, saying he doubted its authenticity.
“Anyone can make a statement now and the burden’s on her to show otherwise,” said attorney Wayne Fricke. “It’s free game right now and we’ll just have to deal with it.”
Although Powell has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, Fricke did not dismiss the possibility of a plea deal that would change her plea to guilty in exchange for a lenient sentence.
“Things are always possible”, said Fricke. “And certainly negotiation is going to be part of this case like it is in any case.”
KIRO
