9OYS Crime Watch

Amphi students say teacher sex scandal is too familiar

CREATED Jan. 23, 2013

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  • Students say they've seen this type of disgusting behavior before. Video by kgun9.com

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Reporter: Maggie Vespa

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) – It's the type of story that will make any parent's stomach turn.

A trusted Tucson teacher is accused of having sexual contact with not one, not two, but three high school students.

And that's not all.

Police say it happened on school grounds, during the school hours, while a group of kids stood by, watching and filming the whole thing.

So, who would commit such a gut-wrenching crime?

Tucson police point to 22 year-old teacher's aide Clarice Lee.

She’s worked in special education at Amphitheater High School since August, 2012.

Tuesday, she was arrested, charged, and released.

She faces four counts of sexual conduct with a minor.

Unfortunately, many students say they’ve seen this type of disgusting behavior before.

15 year-old Pablo Castanea heard about it from his friend, one of the victims.

When 9OYS reporter Maggie Vespa asked how the victim felt about the incident, he responded, “Nervous that they were going to get caught."

Others heard about it at home.

“Actually my dad got a phone call saying that this happened, and a lot of kids were talking about it on campus,” said another student.

They’re talking about 'it', they say and ‘her’.

“I would think it was her because she looked so sweet and innocent, like she wouldn't do that,” said senior Monique Siqueiros.

"She" is 22 year-old Clarice Lee, a teacher's aide at Amphi High School since August, 2012, that is, until now.

Yesterday Amphi High school staff approached an off duty officer working there and advised him that a teacher's aide was involved in sexual contact with several students there.”

Detective Cindy Mechtel says Friday, during lunch, Lee led those students, six males total, to an old gynasium on campus.

There, she had 'sexual contact' with two of them, both 18 years old, and intercourse with a third, just 16.

This as the others watched, capturing it all on a cell phone camera.

Within hours Lee was in cuffs and out of a job.

“She obviously wasn't happy with the situation and I think was surprised that it all came out."

It was a first, seemingly, for her but not the school.

Back in 2011, an Amphi teacher was accused of having sex with a 16 year-old student.

A counselor was accused of covering it up.

Both were fired.  Their cases are still pending.

Older students say the feeling is all too familiar.

"I just said, 'Whoa, it's happening again.  Wow that's nasty,” said Siqueiros.

It’s a point that has police driving home the importance of keeping tabs on your kids.

"With what children have on their cell phones, with what they're doing with their cell phones… I would just encourage communication and ask how your child's day was and what they did, and you'd be surprised how much they will tell you,” said Mechtel.

District administrators released a statement Wednesday, condemning the incident and calling it 'bewildering'.

They also confirmed to 9OYS, that Lee has resigned from her position soon after her arrest.