NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) - A former middle school teacher from Southampton has pleaded not guilty to child rape and other charges.
Prosecutors say James Parks had a sexual relationship with a girl that started when she was 11 and lasted several years.
The 55-year-old Parks was allowed to remain free on the $1,000 bail posted in district court, with GPS monitoring, at his arraignment Tuesday in Hampshire Superior Court.
Parks' attorney argued against monitoring, saying his client is not a flight risk.
The prosecutor said GPS monitoring was warranted in light of Parks' alleged behavior following his arrest, including leaving town for a couple of days without notice and attempting suicide.
Parks was a science teacher at West Springfield Middle School but is now unemployed. The alleged victim was not one of his students.