Adam Glen Albrecht, 28, is charged with 16 counts of felony oral copulation with a minor, 16 counts of felony unlawful sexual intercourse, one count of witness dissuasion, one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one count of possessing less than an ounce of marijuana.

A conviction can carry more than two decades in prison as well as mandatory registration as a sex offender, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

At the arraignment, Judge Thomas McGinn Smith upheld Albrecht’s $500,000 bail but he returns to court Thursday for a reduction hearing.

The review comes exactly a week after Broadmoor police arrested Albrecht without incident at home Thursday night.

The previous day, Albrecht reportedly met with district officials about the situation but Superintendent David Miller and others in the office did not return calls for comment.

Albrecht and a 17-year-old female student allegedly began a six-month sexual relationship which carried on until June when her mother discovered the incidents through cellular phone bills. The encounters reportedly happened primarily at Albrecht’s Broadmoor home and there are no allegations involving other students.

Although the relationship allegedly lasted until last month, prosecutors can’t charge any acts past may when the girl turned 18.

Albrecht is charged with dissuading a witness because he told the girl in a non-threatening way she didn’t have to go to the police, Wagstaffe said.

He is also charged with contributing with the delinquency of a minor for providing marijuana and alcohol to the girl, Wagstaffe said.

Albrecht had a small amount of marijuana in his home at the time of arrest.

Albrecht has taught at Capuchino High School for about three years and achieved permanent status this year, said Teachers’ Association President Craig Childress.

His classes include advanced band, string orchestra, mixed choir and jazz band.

Albrecht’s arrest was shocking and dismaying, said Childress who said he’s met the teacher on one or two occasions.

“You don’t really expect things to happen like this in our district,” Childress said. “You just don’t know what to say.”

Albrecht belongs to the Teachers’ Association and was referred to the group’s legal services, Childress said.

The association holds a legal seminar every other year to remind teachers about their responsibilities and the potential dangers of relationships with students, Childress said.

Wagstaffe conceded a 17-year-old victim is not the same level of seriousness as a case involving a 12-year-old, for example, but said it is still grave.

“When a parent sends a child of any age to school they think it is a safe haven. This case shows it isn’t always,” he said.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102.