Teacher accused of sex with 17-year-old

District attorney says Westminster High teacher had sexual relations with former student of school.A former Westminster High School teacher and Huntington Beach resident has been charged with having illegal sexual relations with a 17-year-old former student of the high school.

Jeremy Grigg Daggett, 26, of Huntington Beach entered a plea of not guilty on Wednesday to one felony charge of oral copulation and sexual penetration of a minor. He was released on bail, which was reduced from $100,000 to $25,000.

Daggett, half-brother of Huntington Beach City Councilwoman Jill Hardy, could face up to three years and eight months in prison if convicted, said Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty. Susan Schroeder.

Kathleen Miller, assistant superintendent of personnel for the Huntington Beach Union High School District, said Daggett has been on administrative leave since November. Daggett taught history and advanced placement economics and coached various sports, such as badminton and soccer.

Daggett and other teachers chaperoned a school-sponsored trip to Europe last August, during which he was accused of flirting with the minor, Schroeder said, adding that teachers told Daggett the conduct was inappropriate.

After the trip ended and Daggett and the student -- who graduated in the spring of 2005 -- returned home, he is accused of carrying on a relationship with her and eventually engaging in multiple sex acts with her in his Huntington Beach home on Aug. 27, 2005, Schroeder said.

The girl, who was not in any of his classes and did not play on any of the teams he coached, later told her friends and parents about the relationship and then reported the incident to the Huntington Beach Police Department, Schroeder said.

Daggett has an account on myspace.com, a popular social networking website. The main photo on his personal page shows him with two young women -- one has her arm around him and the other is sitting on his lap. A quote next to the photo reads: “I am only doing this based on student demands.”

The defendant’s mother said the women in the picture are his college girlfriend and her friend, both of whom are over the age of 18.

“The girl told him she was 18,” said his mother, Susan Daggett of Huntington Beach. “He had no clue she [Daggett’s accuser] was young. He never even knew her until after she graduated.”

She said her son lives with his father, who was home when the girl alleged that she had sexual relations with Jeremy Daggett.

“When she says this all happened, my husband was there,” Susan Daggett said. “She’s out to get him.... This is so out of line.”

She went on to say that, even if her son is found innocent, this could ruin his teaching career and cost him his credentials.

“He absolutely loves teaching and he’s a great teacher,” Susan Daggett said.

Several of Jeremy Daggett’s former students have been posting messages for him on myspace.com.

“I knew it, I had my eyes on you,” read one message, posted at 10:17 p.m. on Tuesday night.

Another message posted at 11:51 p.m. on Tuesday read, “Regardless of what u did you are still a good teacher man and I still respect you for that. No one is perfect. Not even teachers ....”

Schroeder said a pre-trial date has been set for Feb. 9, 2006.