Crime & Safety

Parents Alerted After Police Arrest Farmington Substitute Teacher on Sex Charges

Police say Farmington Hills resident Andrew Howell, 58, had sexual contact with a student.

A longtime Farmington Public Schools substitute teacher was arraigned Thursday in 47th District Court on charges related to an incident involving sexual contact with a female student younger than 13.

According to a Farmington Hills Police Department press release, Andrew Montgomery Howell, 58, of Farmington Hills faces a charge of criminal sexual conduct in the 2nd Degree. He is being held on a $1 million cash or surety bond, and is expected back in court on April 5. 

Howell was arrested on March 27 after an incident reported to have occurred during school hours at Hillside Elementary School. In a district-wide list serv statement sent on Friday, Farmington Public Schools Supterintendent Sue Zurvalec said district officials were notified on March 19 of a "complaint alleging inappropriate conduct". 

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The statement noted Howell was immediately blocked from substituting in the district; he had been a substitute teacher for 25 years, police said. 

"On the morning of Wednesday, March 20, the district initiated an investigation that included interviews with parents and students and as a result of that investigation a report was filed with the Michigan Department of Human Services," Zurvalec wrote. 

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The investigation is ongoing; anyone with information is asked to call the Farmington Hills Police Command Desk at 248-871-2610.      

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to Farmington-Farmington Hills Patch for additional details as they become available. 


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