More details have emerged in the case of a former Wamego Middle School science teacher arrested Sunday on suspicion of a sex crime involving an underage victim.
Allen Sylvester, 51, of rural Wabaunsee County, was formally charged Wednesday with one count of unlawful sexual relations. According to Wabaunsee County Attorney Tim Liesmann, the victim was 17 and turning 18 during the relevant time period, sometime during the 2020-21 school year.
In an email to KMAN, Liesmann says the booking information, implying the acts were with someone under 16, was inaccurate. Because of likely dual jurisdiction, he says it’s possible the case will be transferred in whole or in part to Pottawatomie County.
The Wamego School Board met late Tuesday and accepted Sylvester’s resignation, along with his wife Deborah Sylvester, who taught math at Wamego High School.
An emailed statement from interim superintendent Greg Mann Wednesday, didn’t provide specifics, but noted that the two were placed on administrative leave as part of the district’s ongoing investigation. Mann says to the district’s knowledge, no current students were directly involved.
Allen Sylvester remains jailed in Wabaunsee County on a $100,000 bond.