April 26, 2024

Montezuma teacher accused of providing alcohol to student

MONTEZUMA, (AP) — A central Iowa teacher has resigned after being accused of supplying liquor to a student in a classroom.

The Gazette in Cedar Rapids says 26-year-old Derek Bates, of Montezuma, was charged on Monday with providing alcohol to a person under the legal age and consuming alcohol on public school property.

The newspaper says Bates was an English teacher at Montezuma High School. Superintendent David Versteeg says Bates resigned on Friday, but declined to comment on specifics.

According to court documents, Bates allegedly provided whiskey to a 17-year-old male on Sept. 23 at the high school and “both became very intoxicated.”

There is no attorney listed for Bates on the online court system. A call to a telephone listing for Bates went unanswered Tuesday evening.