Former Teacher Pleads Not Guilty To Conduct Charge

ST. ALBANS, Vt. (AP) — A former Vermont teacher accused of inappropriate conduct with a student has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Forty-seven-year-old Darren Haynes, of Georgia, Vermont, is charged with lewd and lascivious conduct with a child and luring a child. He's accused of touching a 15-year-old girl on the legs, shoulders, and buttocks at Missisquoi Valley Union High School in Swanton during the 2015-2016 school year.

Haynes has been released on several conditions, including that he not communicate with the girl or other females younger than 18.

He recently was serving as a substitute teacher at Bellows Free Academy in Fairfax. The superintendent said before hiring Haynes, a background check was done and showed no indication of prior misconduct. Kirsch said Haynes isn't returning to the school.