<p>A Ware County High School teacher has been arrested on charges that he sexually molested a 15-year-old female student at the school over a period of several months.</p><p>James Kurtz Sr., 56, has been charged with sodomy, statutory rape, child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes and sexual assault of a person in custody, Waycross Police Chief James Blackburn said Monday.</p><p>Blackburn said Kurtz is accused of sexually molesting the student since August during school hours.</p><p>There is no indication of any other victims at this time, Blackburn told the Georgia Times-Union.</p><p>Blackburn said the investigation began Friday after police received a complaint forwarded from authorities with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services in Waycross.</p><p>A Ware County native, Kurtz has taught in the school system for 11 years. He is a ninth-grade English teacher but also teaches two senior English classes at the high school, said Theresa Bryant, school district spokeswoman.</p><p>Kurtz is being held without bail at the Waycross City Jail. He was arrested Sunday when he surrendered to detectives at police headquarters, Blackburn said.</p><p>County schools Superintendent Ricky Brantley issued a written statement Monday saying that Kurtz has been placed on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the ongoing police investigation.</p><p>Nothing else can be said at this point because the matter involves both a police investigation and school system personnel matter, Brantley said.</p><p>Sodomy and enticing a child for indecent purposes each are punishable by one to 20 years in prison. Statutory rape carries a 10- to 20-year prison term. Child molestation is punishable by five to 20 years. Sexual assault of a person in custody carries a one- to three-year prison term.</p><p>Sexual assault of a person in custody in this case reflects that Kurtz was a teacher and the girl was a student enrolled at the school within his care, custody or control, Blackburn said.</p><p>If convicted, Kurtz faces revocation of his state teaching certificate by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.</p>
