A Lisbon High School teacher turned herself into Sheriff’s Department investigators Monday to face charges involving allegations of sexual contact, including sexual intercourse, with a 15 year old male student.
Christel C. Gravlin, 33, of 182 Magill Road, Lisbon was arraigned this morning in Town of Lisbon Court on charges of Rape 3rd Degree, Criminal Sex Act 3rd Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
According to the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, information became known to police, not by the parent of the teen as initially reported, but through other sources.
Allegations became known after an incident at a high school basketball game on November 30th when Gravlin made statements about an affair to a group of students and others who were sitting near her.
Investigators contacted the parents of the teen. They cooperated in the Sheriff’s investigation.
Some earlier reports suggested the alleged incidents were alcohol related but investigators say no evidence exists to support alcohol as a factor in the case.
Sheriff’s Detectives say the charges related to acts that took place the afternoon of November 25th at the tenth grade teacher’s home.
School administrators were informed of the matter on December 2nd and continue to cooperate in the on-going investigation.
Following the arraignment Gravlin was released under the supervision of the St. Lawrence County Probation Department.
The court also issued a temporary order of protection for the teen.
Gravlin, a married mother of two is a former beauty queen, having been chosen Miss St. Lawrence County Teen-Ager in 1990 at the age of 15 and was voted St. Lawrence County Dairy Princess the following year. She graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Potsdam in 2003 with a degree in literature, writing, and secondary education.
