A Rufus King High School teacher is facing sexual misconduct charges after an investigation was opened into her conduct last week.
Erica Allemang-Reinke, 40, of Milwaukee, was charged April 21 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court with four felony counts of sexual misconduct by a school staff member or volunteer.
If convicted, Allemang-Reinke could face up to $10,000 in fines, up to 3½ years in prison, or both, on each charge, according to the criminal complaint.
A warrant was issued for her arrest April 21, according to online court records.
School Principal Doreen Badillo sent a letter to parents April 16 saying a teacher was not working while an investigation was conducted. Badillo’s letter did not name Allemang-Reinke.
As of April 22, Allemang-Reinke’s teaching license was listed as “under investigation,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
According to the complaint:
Rufus King High School student-athletes approached a school resource officer April 15 alleging that Allemang-Reinke had been inappropriately contacting them throughout the current school year.
Students said Allemang-Reinke asked for their cell phone numbers, sent them cash or gifts, made inappropriate comments and touched them inappropriately, the complaint said.
One student said Allemang-Reinke texted them Feb. 9 saying she had a dream about the student. When the student asked Allemang-Reinke at school about the dream, she said it involved her and the student having sex. Allemang-Reinke apologized after the student told her they thought the comment was inappropriate.
In March, the student said, Allemang-Reinke told them she could perform a sex act with the student. The student declined and avoided Allemang-Reinke afterward, the complaint said.
Another student said Allemang-Reinke would call and FaceTime randomly. The student also said that, on one occasion, Allemang-Reinke caressed the student’s inner thigh. The student was uncomfortable with that and moved her hand away. In another incident, Allemang-Reinke tried to sit in the student’s lap, which the student did not allow.
The student also said Allemang-Reinke texted them in the middle of the night saying she dreamed about the student.
The student also said Allemang-Reinke told the student’s friends she was upset that the student did not wish her happy birthday. The student told Allemang-Reinke she was acting weird and blocked her. In addition, the student said Allemang-Reinke sent them $700 through CashApp, the complaint said.
A third student said Allemang-Reinke sent $296 through CashApp and bought shoes for the student. The student said Allemang-Reinke would rub the student’s leg and shoulder during their conversations. One time, Allemang-Reinke said that if she and the student had children together, they would be beautiful because they would have the student’s eyes, the complaint said.
A fourth student said Allemang-Reinke used a hoodie she bought the student as a Christmas gift as something to hold over him. The student also said Allemang-Reinke inserted herself into a conversation students were having about their personal sex lives by making comments about her own sex life and commenting on the student’s body, the complaint said.
No hearing has been set yet, according to online court records.
Allemang-Reinke did not immediately respond to a reporter’s phone calls seeking comment.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MPS teacher charged with sexual misconduct