St. Paul Teacher Had Illegal Sexual Contact With Her Student: Police

ST. PAUL, MN — A St. Paul teacher is accused of having sex with a 17-year-old student. Caitlin Thao, 24, was charged earlier this month with third-degree criminal sexual conduct (prohibited occupational relationship).

The case was brought to authorities by Thao's husband, according to police. If convicted, Thao faces up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.

An active warrant has been issued for Thao. She is not in custody and her whereabouts are unknown to authorities.

On Feb. 23, police received a report that a substitute teacher — identified as Thao — was having sexual relations with a 17-year-old student at St. Paul City School, located on University Avenue.

A police investigator spoke with the executive director of the charter school who said he was aware Thao had pulled the student from class without reason or authority to do so, according to the criminal complaint.

The executive director said that kind of behavior with a student is inappropriate and he had received complaints from staff and people in general regarding Thao’s inappropriate behavior with students, the criminal complaint adds.

Thoa resigned on Feb. 26 after meeting with the school principal, according to police.

Thoa’s husband found out about the incident and informed the student’s mother on March 8, investigators said.

Police spoke with the student on March 13. According to the criminal complaint, the student said Thoa had sex with him in February in Thao's middle school classroom.

According to police, the student also said that:

• Thao was overly nice and they would talk via messenger apps
• Thao called him handsome and would flirt with him
• The student flirted back because she would buy stuff for him and his friends.

After the sexual encounter, Thao continued to ask the student for sex in text messages and invited him over to her place when her husband wasn’t home but he declined, according to the criminal complaint.