1 Sex Charge Against Ex Plymouth-Canton Teacher Aide Dismissed

PLYMOUTH, MI — A former Plymouth-Canton Community Schools teacher’s aide won’t face a sex charge because the 16-year-old student she is accused of having sex with isn’t willing to testify, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said Friday. The third-degree criminal sexual conduct charge against Bridget Caplin, 41, was dismissed, but she still remains charged with distributing obscene material to children and using a computer to commit a crime in connection with alleged acts involving a second teen.

The former East Middle School teacher’s aide was arraigned in 35th District Court on Oct. 19, and was given a $250,000 cash/surety bond. The charges in the first case were dismissed without prejudice — meaning they can be refiled if additional evidence surfaces — during Caplin’s preliminary examination Friday.

Caplin waived her preliminary examination Friday on charges stemming from allegations that engaged in oral sex with her daughters’ 15-year-old male friends, both students at Salem High School, and bought alcohol for them. Plymouth police began investigating Caplin in May after receiving a tip from an online company called We Tip, an anonymous crime tip site that is based in California.

Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Woodyard said the identity of the first victim was made public during a live stream of Caplin’s arraignment that is still available on the internet, making him reluctant to testify.

“That is the only reason that my son would not testify today, because he pretty much was shamed in public and in the media,” the first victim’s father told The Detroit News. “He pretty much let a rapist walk.”

The teen’s father said a local television station that posted the live stream of the arraignment took down the post when asked, but it had already been posted on YouTube.

He also told The Detroit News that his son, who was 15 when Caplin allegedly had oral sex with him in a church parking lot, does not feel victimized. “He thinks that this woman did nothing wrong,” the father said. “He's dead set against (testifying).”

The second victim, who was also identified on the live stream, has agreed to testify. In that case, authorities have evidence that includes videos, pictures, text messages, including an alleged pornographic selfie, the first victim’s father told the newspaper.

Photo via Wayne County Prosecutor's Office