Bond hearing set for teacher in sodomy case

May 21—A Robidoux Middle School teacher charged with first-degree sodomy will appear in court for a bond hearing on Wednesday morning.

Everett "Tim" Harding, a math teacher, faces the charge stemming from a May 7 incident involving a 14-year-old female student. He is currently held without bond at the Buchanan County Jail.

Harding, 47, of Maryville, Missouri, remains an employee of the St. Joseph School District.

"A teacher under contract, such as Mr. Harding, is entitled to pay until the contract is terminated by the Board or he resigns," a statement from the district reads. "The Teacher Tenure Act requires a specific process for termination of a teacher's contract with associated timelines. Because this is a personnel matter, we can only state at this point that the district will aggressively take the steps necessary to appropriately address the matter as promptly as the law permits."

District leaders said previously they are "fully cooperating with the appropriate authorities in our investigation of this matter."

Court documents allege Harding had sexual contact with the girl in his locked classroom after school. Another staff member reported finding Harding's door locked on the day of the incident and then later seeing the teacher and student leave the darkened room, a probable cause statement said.