The Capuchino High School music director who reportedly carried on a months-long affair with a 17-year-old student has a greater chance of freedom while fighting the statutory rape charges after a judge slashed his half-million bail to $100,000.
Judge Carl Holm dropped bail for Adam Glen Albrecht by 80 percent from the amount on which the 28-year-old teacher was arrested June 28. The $500,000 bail was upheld by Judge Thomas McGinn Smith at Albrecht’s initial arraignment Monday but his pair of San Jose attorneys immediately requested a bail review.
As of Thursday afternoon, Albrecht was still in custody at the Maguire Correctional Facility.
He 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. He has pleaded not guilty but a conviction can carry prison time and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
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, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
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 reportedly told the girl in a non-threatening way she didn’t have to go to the police. He is also charged with contributing with the delinquency of a minor for providing marijuana and alcohol to the girl. He had a small amount of marijuana in his home at the time of arrest.
Albrecht taught at Capuchino High School for about three years and achieved permanent status this year. His classes include advanced band, string orchestra, mixed choir and jazz band.
Albrecht resigned his position Thursday morning, said San Mateo Union High School District Superintendent David Miller.
Broadmoor police arrested Albrecht without incident at home later that day.
The lowering of Albrecht’s bail is the latest in notable changes between Holm and Smith. Most prominently, in April Smith dropped the $1.8 million arrest warrant signed by Holm for accused molester Dr. William Ayres to $250,000 without explanation. At the next court appearance, Holm raised it back to $750,000.
Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102.
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