BY ALEX PIAZZA
apiazza@record-eagle.com
BELLAIRE — An Ellsworth man who taught math for nearly three decades in his hometown will spend at least 15 years behind bars because he engaged in a sexual relationship with a female student.
Judge Philip Rodgers, of 13th Circuit Court, sentenced Michael Henry Peterson, 56, this week to spend 15 to 30 years in prison.
Peterson, a teacher at Ellsworth Community Schools for 29 years, pleaded guilty in June to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct after Antrim County sheriff's deputies said he initiated sexual contact with a girl, 15, inside a classroom and at her home.
He is required to sign an affidavit that states he will surrender his teaching license, refrain from obtaining a teaching license in another state and never accept a position supervising or coaching minor females. Peterson also is expected to pay more than $1,200 restitution to the girl's family.
"Some people will deny, deny to their grave," said Fil Iorio, Peterson's attorney. "I think he did the right thing for taking responsibility."
In January, he participated in sexual conversations with the girl through online instant messaging software. Peterson deleted the conversations from his hard drive, but detectives found the messages on her computer.
Ellsworth school officials in February suspended Peterson with pay shortly after they were notified of the investigation. He retired from teaching after bond stipulations required him to avoid minors, effectively banning him from the school.
Antrim County prosecutors in February charged Peterson with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, then added another seven counts. Authorities also charged him with accosting a minor for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime, both felonies.
Peterson admitted to two sexual contacts with the girl, agreed upon by both parties as part of his plea deal.
Rodgers also issued an order Wednesday that requires Iorio to pay about $2,100 in fines within 28 days because the judge said he issued a "blatantly inappropriate subpoena" for the victim's school records.
"His arguments were frivolous," Rodgers said. "Enough is enough. This behavior has to end."
Ellsworth Community Schools incurred $2,104 in legal fees to fight the subpoena filed by Iorio, school district attorney Eric Delaporte wrote in an affidavit.
Iorio disagreed with Rodgers' ruling.
"I think it's unfortunate that we get penalized for doing our job," Iorio said. "With the subpoena process, we complied with the process."
