Updated: Grand Rapids teacher arrested for sexual assault on student

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – A high school teacher in Grand Rapids has been arrested for sexually assaulting a fifteen-year-old student from South Christian High School.

Michigan State Police say 32-year-old James Bruce Valkema of Grand Rapids was arrested on Monday on a five-count warrant issued by the Kent County Sheriff's Office.

Valkema is a Spanish teacher and bowling coach at South Christian High. Valkema has taught there for ten years. He is currently suspended without pay.

The arrest has come as a surprise to the tight-knit community.

Investigators say Valkema has been charged with first degree criminal sexual conduct because he was in a position of authority over the fifteen-year-old girl in the case.

Documents obtained by Newschannel 3 say that Valkema had sex with the girl on multiple occasions at Volkema's house on Franklin Street in Grand Rapids.

The girl told officers it happened every Friday and Saturday from April 13th until the beginning of June.

The case came to light after the student reported the sexual relationship to a summer camp counselor.

Parents with students at South Christian High got a note from the principal about the alleged crimes on Tuesday, and the school will be offering counseling to students over the coming days.

Reaction has been coming in from school leaders and from those who knew Valkema.

“I can't seem him doing anything to hurt anyone, he's not that type of guy,” said Valkema's friend Sheryl Davis, “that's all I am going to say.”

“I just can't even express the sadness and pain that we have,” said South Christian Principal George Guichelaar.

Valkema was arraigned Tuesday on five counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree and is being held on $500,000 bond.
     
If convicted, Valkema faces a sentence of life in prison on each count. A preliminary examination has been set for July 21st.