San Jose Teacher Charged with Molestation

A San Jose teacher was arrested on June 1 on suspicion of sexually abusing a child, police announced Tuesday.

Police did not explain the reason for the delay in releasing the information, but it came one day before Colette Phelps made her first appearance in court. She did not make a plea Wednesday, although she was charged.

Her attorney, Steven Clark, told the Mercury News that Phelps is deeply embarrassed to be in this situation. Clark also told the paper, "Ms. Phelps has had significant personal and medical conditions in her life" that he will discuss with the district attorney's office."

Police said it received reports the morning of June 1 that Phelps had allegedly committed lewd acts with a Stratford School student.

Officers arrested her later that Wednesday on suspicion of child sexual abuse, according to police.

Phelps, 28, of Los Gatos has been teaching at Stratford School in San Jose for the past five years, police said.

It was not known the age or sex of the child she is accused of molesting, but the official charge read in court Wednesday said acts on a child age 14 or 15.