Willits teacher accused of sex with student

<p>A 38-year-old Willits charter high school teacher has been charged with carrying on a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student.</p><p>Clinton Douglas Smith of Willits was released on his own recognizance Thursday morning following a bail hearing in Mendocino County Superior Court in Willits, according to Mendocino County jail authorities.</p><p>Smith could not be reached Thursday afternoon for comment. His attorney, Mark Kalina, declined to comment.</p><p>Smith is scheduled to enter a plea Feb. 24 to charges of unlawful sex, lewd acts on a child, sexual penetration and oral copulation of a child under the age of 16, and intent of seduction, said Mendocino County District Attorney Meredith Lintott.</p><p>The girl was one of his students, she said.</p><p>The relationship, believed to have taken place over several months, was not forced, Lintott said. But a 15-year-old cannot legally consent to a sexual relationship with a 38-year-old, she said.</p><p>Smith had been a teacher at Willits Charter School for 10 years, according to school officials. He taught high school math and physics.</p><p>He was placed on administrative leave Jan. 13 after school officials learned of the alleged affair, said Jason Erlick, the school business manager.</p><p>"We have been cooperating fully with the investigation and legal authorities," he said.</p><p>The relationship came to light after some of the girl's peers reported it to school officials, said Willits Police Chief Gerry Gonzalez.</p><p>The charges against Smith were filed Jan. 29 and he was arrested on a warrant later that day.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 462-6473</p><p>or glenda.anderson@</p><p>pressdemocrat.com.</p>