Teacher Faces Charges of Sex With Student

South Haven - A West Michigan middle school teacher is in jail, charged with molesting a student.

Police say Elizabeth Miklosovic, from Grand Rapids, was a teacher at South Haven Middle School.

She is charged with first degree criminal sexual conduct of a female student.

Police say a mentor-type relationship with a 14 year old eighth grader turned into a sexual one.

Investigators say one incident happened near the school and several others happened at Miklosovic's home in Grand Rapids. Miklosovic reportedly turned herself in today.

She taught seventh grade at the middle school.

WZZM 13 News has learned an arrest warrant has been issued for Miklosovic in Kent County, adding to the charge in Van Buren County.

As busses roared out of the parking lot Thursday at the South Haven school building administrators met inside.

They were here to talk about the charges against 36 year old english teacher Elizabeth Miklosovic.

A third year middle school teacher they say she was popular with students and often acted as a mentor.

Principal John Weiss says students often lean on teachers when going through difficult times, "Our students have many issues and sometimes it's hard to find someone to talk to and solve problems they might have." Miss "M" as she was known was one of those people and that's how Police believe her relationship with the eighth grader began.

Detective Sgt. Oppenheim is working the case, "It started off as the student reaching out for help because she was having some emotional problems at the time." But from there police say she took advantage of the girl and their relationship became criminal.

They say it began with a sexual incident in a nearby state park about five miles from school.

They say it then happened several more times at Miklosovic's home on Grand Rapids' Northeast Side. It was a relationship police say both felt was consensual until a fellow student turned the teacher in and the 14 year old recognized there was a problem.

Detective Sgt. Oppenheim says the girl is now realizing she is a victim, "She is starting to realize she is a victim and the relationship was wrong." Miklosovic faces life in prison if convicted on the charge in Van Buren County and the one's in Kent County are still to come.