ALFRED (NEWS CENTER Maine) — A judge will wait to rule whether the text exchange between a former Kennebunk High School teacher and the student she's accused of having sexual relations with will be excluded from the trial until a jury has been selected.
Jill Lamontagne of Kennebunk allegedly had a relationship with a 17-year-old male student while she was a health teacher at Kennebunk High School.
Lamontagne is accused of engaging in a number of sex acts with the teen in a classroom, in a car and at her home.
The 29-year-old mother of two turned herself into police in October 2017 after being indicted by a York County Grand Jury on a total of 14 counts of sexual misconduct including six counts of gross sexual assault, six counts of sex abuse of a minor and two counts of unlawful sexual contact.
RSU 21 Superintendent Katie Hawes announced in June 2017 that Lamontagne was being placed on leave during an investigation. Lamontagne had worked at the school district since 2013.
Attorney Scott Gardner said Lamontagne "categorically denies the charges," according to the Journal Tribune.
Gardner says, "The allegations arise from a high school rumor resulting from the fantasies of a [then] 17-year-old student."
Lamontagne's attorney filed a motion in June to exclude photos of text messages from the former teacher's trial, calling their credibility into question.
Lamontagne's trial is scheduled to begin July 23 at York County Superior Court in Alfred.