A North Middle School teacher was arraigned at 34th District Court Tuesday morning [July 31] on two felony charges and one misdemeanor concerning her alleged activities with a 15-year-old student.
Andrea Deanna Brennan, 37, of Ypsilanti was charged on Monday by the Wayne County Prosecutor with distributing sexually explicit material to a minor, a felony punishable by up to two years in prison; use of a computer to commit a crime, a felony punishable by up to four years in prison; and furnishing alcohol to a minor, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail and up to a $10,000 fine.
VBT Police Captain Greg Laurain said at about 1:30 a.m. on July 10 at Beck Baseball Field, a VBT officer investigated a suspicious vehicle parked in the parking lot of the ball field. The officer reports Brennan and a 15-year-old VBT juvenile were found there consuming alcohol.
Brennan was taken into custody for furnishing alcohol to a minor and the juvenile was held until his parents were contacted and they managed to pick him up, Captain Laurain said.
A search warrant was later obtained on Brennan’s personal cell phone which revealed a history of text messaging between her and the juvenile, along with one sexually explicit photo of Brennan that was sent to the teen’s cell phone, Laurain said.
The teen reportedly has never been a student of Brennan.
Brennan turned herself in at the courthouse on Tuesday morning, accompanied by her husband, Rich.
After the arraignment, Brennan’s attorney Loren M. Dickstein told camera crews from channels 2, 4, and 7 that his client’s husband is very supportive of his wife and loves her dearly.
Dickstein said Brennan’s husband will be with her at all her court appearances.
Judge David Parrott read the charges and Brennan stood mute, which is treated as a not-guilty plea.
A pre-exam was set for 1 p.m. Aug. 6 before Judge Brian Oakley and, if necessary, a preliminary exam will be held at 9 a.m., Aug. 8, in front of Chief Judge Tina Brooks Green.
Attorney Dickstein asked for a waiver of the 14-days limit for the preliminary exam because he wanted 30 days for discovery to seek out all the facts. Judge Parrott said, quite frankly, there was not that much to discover and Dickstein could take it up at the pre-exam.
“You can always waive the 14 days at that time,” Judge Parrott said.
Brennan was released on $10,000 personal recognizance bond. Judge Parrott said no funds were required because she turned herself in and the police department recommended the personal bond.
Judge Parrott said the terms of the bond include no contact of any sort with the alleged victim, including by electronic devices, personal contact, or written.
Also, Tuesday morning, Van Buren Public Schools Supt. Michael Van Tassel issued a statement on Brennan’s status.
“There have been charges of improprieties brought against an adult who teaches in the district,” Supt. Van Tassel wrote. “We are cooperating with the criminal authorities to obtain the facts and information regarding these charges.
“Van Buren Public Schools will take all appropriate steps necessary to determine the future employment status of this individual to ensure the utmost protect of all our students.”