WHEELING — It was about one year ago that officials with Wheeling Park High School and Ohio County Schools began investigating reports that a WPHS shop teacher was involved in a sexual relationship with a student.

By year’s end, Micah Farmer, 38, of Wheeling had pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree felony sexual assault against the student.

Court filings state that Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones told Farmer on Dec. 1, 2023, to avoid any contact or private interaction with the victim.

On Jan. 10, WPHS Principal Meredith Dailer received permission from the victim’s mother to confiscate the victim’s cellphone. Dailer and the victim reviewed the text messages the victim and Farmer sent to each other, which included sexually explicit messages.

The court filings continue to state that on Jan. 11, 2024, Farmer admitted to a state trooper that he and the victim had sexual intercourse at his home and in his truck. The next day troopers interviewed the victim, who corroborated that she and Farmer had sexual intercourse at Farmer’s house.

Next, Farmer was arrested, arraigned and released on $5,000 bond.

Soon after, Ohio County Schools released a statement saying a WPHS teacher was immediately relieved of his duties due to an alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor student. Farmer then resigned from his position as a welding teacher at WPHS, retroactive to Jan. 10.

In late October, Farmer pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree sexual assault contained in information filed by Chief Assistant Prosecutor Shawn R. Turak. Each count of third-degree sexual assault carries the possibility of one to five years of incarceration at the Department of Corrections and a possible fine of up to $10,000.

Turak noted that the state of West Virginia will recommend to the court at sentencing that Farmer receive the maximum prison sentence of two to 10 on the combined counts and fined $5,000.

Farmer will be free to argue for a lesser sentence, and the court will retain final sentencing authority, Turak said.

In addition to the possibility of prison time, Farmer will be required to register as a sex offender for life. He will also be subjected to extended supervision by a probation office for up to 50 years following the completion of his sentence. Farmer’s sentencing date has not yet been set.