BENTONVILLE -- A jury trial was set Wednesday for a former Siloam Springs teacher accused of raping a 13-year-old boy.
Mary Faith McCormick, 32, appeared in court Wednesday morning where Circuit Judge Brad Karren scheduled her trial for July 28. An omnibus hearing is set for Jan. 29, and a pre-trial hearing is set for Feb. 12.
McCormick is accused of engaging in sexual intercourse with the boy between June 1 and July 31.
McCormick, who was arrested Aug. 13, previously pleaded not guilty in the case. She is free on $50,000 bond.
Siloam Springs police began an investigation Aug. 8 after they received information accusing McCormick of engaging in sexual acts with the boy.
The boy told police he began to exchange messages with McCormick via SnapChat two weeks after the school year ended. The boy said McCormick sent him a photograph of her breasts and he sent a photo of himself to her, according the affidavit.
SnapChat is an electronic application allowing users to send photos and videos that disappear after a specified time, usually seconds, once the recipient views them.
The boy told police he had two sexual encounters with McCormick.
McCormick was a sixth-grade language arts teacher at Siloam Springs Intermediate School. She was suspended with pay after her arrest.
She resigned Sept. 11, and the School Board accepted her resignation. Her resignation was dated Aug. 22 and effective Sept. 20.
"I am facing very serious charges," McCormick stated in her resignation letter. "I am not guilty of those accusations and intend to prove my innocence. Once I am able to do that, I hope to continue to teach. Thank you for the privilege you have given me to teach in your school district the last three years."
Rape, a Class Y felony, normally is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years or life imprisonment. A conviction of raping a child 13 or younger carries a minimum sentence of 25 years.
NW News on 12/11/2014