MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ) - A retired Macomb County teacher and aviation club member based out of the Ray Township Community Airport was charged in connection to having a months-long sexual relationship with a teen girl, authorities said on Monday.
According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, Rex Phelps, 71, of Macomb County Township, appeared in Romeo District Court on March 6 and was arraigned on multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct after he was accused of initiating a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl -- the encounters were said to have lasted over several months.
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said additional charges may be added by the Federal Government.
Authorities said Phelps is a retired Dakota High School teacher in Macomb County and was teaching the teen about airplanes at the Ray Community Airport at the time of the alleged sexual assault.
Records from Romeo District Court stated the incident was reported in October.
In a criminal complaint in federal court obtained by The Detroit News, FBI agents allege that Phelps touched a teen on her inner thigh and her genitals while "in flight."
At the end of February or beginning of March, the complaint said a tip was made to the Michigan State Police that claimed Phelps was having sexual contact with a minor.
The Macomb County Prosecutor's office confirmed on March 2 that troopers were investigating the allegations and Phelps was being held in jail pending charges in the case.
"It was determined during the investigation that this conduct had been ongoing for several months," MSP said in a statement.
As outlined in the federal complaint, the teen told authorities that Phelps first kissed her on Jan. 14 as the two were flying to Frankenmuth.
The 15-year-old girl then said that Phelps kissed her again, multiple times, while they were flying two days later on Jan. 16.
Later in the same month, the teen told authorities that Phelps moved his hand between her thighs while on flights and touched her several times. She also said the 71-year-old had grabbed her breasts in a hanger at the Ray Community Airport.
Her statement also said that Phelps would ask her sexual questions and then instruct her to delete any text messages between the two. Agents said they were able to recover deleted messages that showed the two "discussing being in love."
According to court documents, Phelps admitted to MSP investigators that he had touched the girl's thigh over her clothes as the two flew together, but that he did not touch her anywhere else.
He then told troopers that he was planning to have sex with the teen once she turned 16, which is the age of consent in Michigan, while his wife wasn't home.
A judge gave Phelps a $50,000.00 cash, no 10% bond. If he is released, the judge ordered he be drug and alcohol tested, wear a GPS monitor, surrender his passport and have no contact with anyone under 18 years of age.
The 71-year-old is due back in court on Tuesday, March 14.
