By Stephanie Wurtz
s.wurtz@krdo.com

COLORADO SPRINGS - Allegations of a sexual assault between a 15-year-old student and her 25-year-old teacher are tearing apart a tight-knit southern Colorado community.  It's a story you'll only see on NEWSCHANNEL 13 and krdo.com. A month ago, a formal complaint was filed in Lincoln County. 

It accuses a teacher at Karval Public School of sexually assaulting a child.  It's a complaint that has the tiny town divided.  "Everyone in a small community knows what's going on and knows the families that are involved on one side or the other," says Martin Adams, principal and superintendent at Karval Public School. 

The school is right in the middle.  The accusations from a 15-year-old female student came out over the summer and stem from an incident in April.  An affidavit from Lincoln County states the student texted history teacher Andrew McCollum, asking if he wanted to get together and "do stuff." 

It says the student snuck out, met McCollum and that they kissed and she performed a sexual act with McCollum at his house.  "When you are accused, you're supposed to be innocent until proven guilty," Adams says. 

But that's the debate in the town of 35 people.  One Karval parent, who didn't want to be named, says she's concerned for students' safety because no one will defend the 15-year-old victim.  Adams says a lie detector test shared with the school board backed McCollum's statements that the accusations were false. 

When school starts August 13, McCollum won't be there.  "He has a bond on him that states he's not allowed to have contact with anyone under 18," says Adams, "so he will not be allowed to interact with students here at the school or come into the school when it's open." 

Adams says he'd consider allowing McCollum to teach online classes, leaving the accusations in the hands of the court.  "We're trying to make everyone be safe," Adams says, "reiterating what is appropriate behavior with students." 

McCollum's hearing date is now set for August 27.  The school says it'll wait until then to decide exactly what to do about McCollum's status for the rest of the school year.