By Khalida Sarwari
A 37-year-old Watsonville high school English teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with at least one student and giving alcohol to another student pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Santa Cruz County Superior Court.
Tanya Thienngern, of Aptos, pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of unlawful intercourse with a minor, one felony count of child endangerment, and one misdemeanor count of immoral behavior in the presence of a minor, prosecutor Andrew Isaac said.
Thienngern could face up to 7 years and 4 months in prison if convicted of all charges.
Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Thienngern earlier this month following an investigation that began on May 10 into allegations that the Pajaro Valley High School teacher was having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male student.
Further investigation revealed Thienngern might have had sexual contact with more than one student and had allegedly provided alcohol to students, according to police. She is accused of giving alcohol to a 17-year-old boy with the knowledge he was going to drive afterward, Isaac said.
The alleged incidents occurred in the fall of 2009.
Thienngern has been teaching at Pajaro Valley High School since August 2006.
She was arrested June 9 and was released after posting $25,000 bail.
Pajaro Valley Unified School District officials placed her on administrative leave once they were informed of the allegations.
Thienngern will return to court on July 26 for a preliminary hearing.