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Columbia Teacher Arrested on Suspicion of Having Sex With Student

Meiying Wu
/
KBIA

Authorities say a Columbia Public Schools teacher has been arrested after a student reported having a sexual relationship with him.

Police said in a news release that 30-year-old Sean Thomas Diestel was arrested Thursday on suspicion of felony sexual contact with a student.

No charges have been filed, and it's not immediately known whether he has an attorney. Police say the investigation began May 4 after a student reported having the sexual relationship with Diestel from September to December of last year when she was 17.

The release says the student had been enrolled in a class Diestel taught at the Columbia Area Career Center.

District spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said in a news release that Diestel is on administrative leave.

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