Former Mendota Heights Teacher Had Sex With Student: Charges

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN — Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced that Christine Lee Funk, 31, of New Hope, has been charged with three felony counts of criminal sexual conduct. The criminal complaint filed Wednesday alleges that Funk, who was a high school music teacher in District 197, engaged in sexual relations with a 17-year-old student on three occasions in February of 2017.

According to the criminal complaint, On Feb. 27, a school resource officer from Mendota Heights Police Department received information regarding inappropriate text messages occurring between a 17-year-old male student and his music teacher.

In reviewing the messages, officers found conversations that suggested the teacher and the student had engaged in sexual relations. Officers also discovered that the teacher had sent several partially nude photos of herself to the student, according to authorities.

Funk taught music at Henry Sibley High School, the Pioneer Press reported.

During an interview, Funk denied having sexual relations with the student and explained that any text messages of a sexual nature were a "fantasy." When confronted about texting partially nude photos of herself to the student, Funk initially denied doing so, but then admitted doing so after being shown the pictures found on the student’s cell phone, according to police.

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Police say during an interview with the student, he reported receiving text messages and partially nude photos of Funk, but initially denied having sexual relations with her. After a full search of his cell phone, additional text messages were recovered that further suggested Funk and the student had engaged in sexual relations, according to the criminal complaint.

The student later admitted to having sexual relations with Funk on more than one occasion at: Funk’s residence in Hennepin County; at the high school; and in a vehicle parked outside of the student’s home in Dakota County.

Under Minnesota law, it is a felony offense for a teacher to have sexual relations with a student under the age of 18 if the teacher is more than 48 months older than the student.

Because this student resides in Dakota County, the Dakota County office has jurisdiction over the alleged Hennepin County incident in addition to the two alleged incidents which occurred in Dakota County, according to a news release.

Backstrom commented: "Crimes of this nature represent a significant abuse of authority and violates the trust students, parents, and the community have the right to expect of teachers." Backstrom thanked the Mendota Heights Police Department and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office Electronic Crimes Unit for their thorough investigation into this matter.

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