BELFAST — A former Waldo County high school teacher has been sentenced to one year of probation after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual touching.

Aaron Clark, 37, of Etna, was also sentenced to 364 days in jail with all suspended during the Feb. 27 proceeding.

Clark first came to the attention of law enforcement after a June 4 referral from a local school resource officer, who reported a potentially inappropriate relationship between a teacher and student.

According to court documents, the student’s mother became suspicious of Clark, who had been exchanging text messages with the juvenile. Though the mother wasn’t initially concerned, that changed when their child began spending time with Clark outside of the school.

During interviews with the victim, law enforcement learned the first sexual contact between the two occurred when the victim was still underage, and that the relationship with Clark lasted beyond the 18th birthday.

As a result of the investigation Clark was charged with unlawful sexual touching and unlawful sexual contact.

Clark pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual touching, with the charge of unlawful sexual contact dismissed as part of a plea deal.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com