Southlake: Accused said teen was unrequited sexual aggressor

12:00 AM CST on Saturday, March 25, 2006

By DEBRA DENNIS / The Dallas Morning News

A former Southlake teacher was acquitted Friday of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy at her apartment.

Michelle Dawn Sewell, 28, was charged with indecency with a child and sexual assault of a child.

The jury deliberated three hours before reaching a verdict.

Ms. Sewell sobbed and clutched her attorney, Bob Hinton, after the verdict was read.

The boy, a Carroll High School student who is now 17, was also in the courtroom.

He didn't react and was escorted from the courtroom by his family.

Ms. Sewell, a former teacher at Durham Elementary School, denied having a sexual relationship with the boy, whom she described as like a brother.

Ms. Sewell, a friend of the teen's family, said she counseled him about school, girls and other matters.

She told jurors that the teen was the sexual aggressor and she rejected his advances.

The teen also testified. He told jurors that Ms. Sewell performed sex acts on him last March at her apartment in Grapevine.

He also said Ms. Sewell gave him a key to her apartment.

Ms. Sewell, who taught third grade, resigned from the Carroll school district last year after the allegations arose.

E-mail ddennis@dallasnews.com