A longtime Douglas County High School teacher assaulted a student while they were alone in a classroom together, according to an arrest affidavit.
Social studies teacher James “Jim” Christopher Thomure, 55, was arrested June 18 on suspicion of sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust.
According to a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit, a student was talking to Thomure alone in a classroom on May 9 when Thomure tried to kiss them. The student’s age and gender were redacted from the report.
The student told Thomure no, that Thomure was married and this would “ruin his life,” and tried to move away. But Thomure followed them around the classroom and asked for “just one kiss.”
Thomure told the student he wanted to do things to them, that they could go to the park over the summer and “casual sex can be fun,” according to the affidavit.
Thomure put his hands inside the student’s pants twice and when the student put a hand on his chest to keep him away, Thomure said the student was “driving (him) crazy,” according to the affidavit.
Thomure and the student later walked out of the school together and drove away separately.
School surveillance video confirmed Thomure was alone in the classroom with the student for more than an hour, according to the affidavit.
When interviewed by police, Thomure admitted to giving his phone number out to students and giving the student a ride in his car but denied trying to kiss the student. He said he didn’t think he did anything wrong, investigators wrote in the report.
Thomure, a Centennial resident, began working at the Douglas County School District in 1999 and is on administrative leave “pending investigation,” according to district officials.
Thomure was released on $20,000 bail and is set to appear in court July 18, according to court records.
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