BREAKING

Scottsdale teacher accused of sexual misconduct with student

Justin Sayers
The Republic | azcentral.com
Christopher Thomas McKenna

A teacher and Chaparral High School track coach has been arrested on multiple counts of sexual misconduct, the Scottsdale Police Department announced Wednesday.

Christopher Thomas McKenna, 37, was arrested Tuesday after an investigation found evidence that he had an ongoing sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student since 2014, the department said. He is expected to face 10 counts of luring a minor for sexual exploitation and six counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, according to a police press release.

McKenna has worked for the Scottsdale Unified School District since 2008, said Kristine Harrington, a spokeswoman for the district. He was placed on leave pending an investigation.

He taught an adaptive physical education, or physical education for special-needs children, class at eight schools in the district, including Cocopah Middle School and Desert Mountain High School, Harrington said. He was also the girls' track and field and cross-country coach at Chaparral High.

Mckenna was named Teacher of the Year in 2014 by the Scottsdale Unified School District Foundation, Harrington confirmed.

She issued the following statement on behalf of the district:

"SUSD became aware of allegations of sexual misconduct against a teacher and immediately notified Scottsdale police. We now have been notified that Scottsdale police arrested the teacher, Christopher McKenna, on Tuesday, December 8, 2015. The police investigation indicates that McKenna had an ongoing sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student. At this time, the investigation is still in progress, but there are no indications of additional victims.  SUSD has placed McKenna on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

McKenna served as an Adaptive P.E. (Special Education Physical Education) teacher within the District and Chaparral High School Track and Cross Country Coach. Again, there is no indication that there are only other victims.

As always, the safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance, and we will continue to fully cooperate with the police investigation."

McKenna was booked into jail and ordered held on felony charges, police said. The investigation is ongoing.