Former Substitute Teacher Charged with Sex Crime Free on Bond

A former Farmington Public Schools substitute teacher charged with sex abuse is free on $10,000 personal bond, after waiving a preliminary exam.

According to the Oakland County Court Explorer website, Andrew Montgomery Howell, 58, faces a pretrial hearing in Circuit Court on June 7, on a charge of criminal sexual conduct in the 2nd degree, with a child under age 13. 

Howell was arrested by Farmington Hills Police on March 27, after an incident during school hours at Hillside Elementary School. Farmington Public Schools Supterintendent Sue Zurvalec said in March that district officials were notified on March 19 of a "complaint alleging inappropriate conduct". Howell was immediately blocked from substituting in the district; he had been a substitute teacher for 25 years, police said. 

The Farmington Observer reported May 30 that Howell is on a tether and only allowed to leave his home "for certain activities such as court appearances and religious services." 

Howell was employed by Professional Educational Services Group (PSEG), a Michigan-based company that provides substitute staffing for school districts throughout Michigan and Indiana. Assistant superintendent David Ruhland said in March that PSEG conducts the same background checks that are done for all district employees. 

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