Ex-teacher to remain jailed on rape charge
A former Sioux Falls School District employee charged with raping a student off school grounds will remain in jail on a $500,000 bond after a judge refused to lower the figure.
Tonya Drueppel, 34, faces three counts of rape and two counts of sexual contact with a child. She is accused of a romantic relationship with a 14-year-old girl she had met while teaching Native American Connections classes at Axtell Park Middle School.
In January, the teen told police that the two continued a friendship after Drueppel left the school, and that the relationship had turned sexual, with multiple encounters over several months.
Drueppel admitted that the two had a relationship and called it "a lapse in judgment," but has denied any sexual contact.
On Wednesday, after 327 days in jail, Drueppel's lawyer asked Judge Mark Salter to consider a bond that would allow her to be released to her family before her trial next month.
Drueppel has no prior criminal history, Deputy Public Advocate Lindsay DeMatteo told Salter and she poses no danger if released. If there are concerns about her having contact with the victim, DeMatteo said, Drueppel would gladly sign a no contact order and wear a GPS monitoring system.
The defense lawyer also told the judge that, unlike some defendants charged with similar crimes and held on lower bonds, Drueppel has not admitted to any criminal behavior.
"We are vehemently contesting the allegations," DeMatteo said, noting that her client is convinced the victim is a troubled teen "obsessed" with her client who fabricated the sexual relationship.
Deputy State's Attorney Randy Sample said the crimes alleged easily are serious enough to warrant the bond. It's not alleged that any sexual contact took place in school, he said, but Drueppel was a teacher.
The circumstances surrounding her apprehension almost one year ago factored into the bond decision as well, Sample said. On Jan. 24, the victim didn't come to school. Police found her at the Nites Inn with Drueppel, crying on a bed with Drueppel in the bathroom.
"(Police) saw her in the shower with an electrical cord around her neck, trying to strangle herself," Sample said.
The victim talked about a sexual relationship, including encounters in several places, and Drueppel admitted that her relationship with the teen had been too close and a product of poor judgment.
"She would say that nothing sexual happened, but they kissed on numerous occasions," Sample said.
Salter ruled against DeMatteo, saying the bond was based on Drueppel's role as a teacher and the length of the alleged relationship.
"I am not convinced that the circumstances have changed enough to warrant a change," Salter said.