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A teacher at Douglas County High School attacked a student in class
A longtime teacher at Douglas County High School assaulted a student while they were alone in a classroom, according to an arrest affidavit.
Social studies teacher James “Jim” Christopher Thomure, 55, was arrested June 18 on suspicion of sexual abuse of a child by someone in a position of trust.
According to an arrest affidavit from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, 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 have been removed from the report.
The student told Thomure no, that Thomure was married and this would “ruin his life,” and tried to move out. But Thomure followed them around the classroom and asked for “just one kiss.”
Thomure told the student he wanted to do things with them, that they could go to the park in the summer and that “casual sex can be fun,” according to the affidavit.
Thomure put his hands down 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.
According to the school’s sworn video, Thomure was alone in the classroom with the student for more than an hour.
When interviewed by police, Thomure admitted to giving his phone number to students and giving the student a ride in his car, but denied trying to kiss the student. He said he did not think he had done anything wrong, investigators wrote in the report.
Thomure, a Centennial resident, began working in the Douglas County School District in 1999 and is on administrative leave “pending investigation,” district officials said.
Thomure was released on $20,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on July 18, according to court records.
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