A West Elk Jr.-Sr. High School faculty member remains on leave with pay this week after being arrested on charges of various sexual crimes allegedly committed in a western Kansas county.

Dean L. Baum, age 53, was arrested on Friday, July 23, in Howard on a warrant from Wallace County, where he and his wife, Linda, have a summer home.

Wallace County prosecuting attorney Charles F. Moser said Baum, while living in his summer home on various occasions, allegedly committed sexual acts on a juvenile over a span of six years — from March 2003 to September 2009.

The complaint against Baum was filed in Wallace County Judicial Court in Sharon Springs, Kan., on July 22. The complaint cites six different charges against Baum, including:

• aggravated criminal sodomy,
• criminal sodomy,
• aggravated indecent liberties with a child,
• indecent liberties with a child,
• aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, and
• indecent solicitation of a child.

None of the alleged crimes were reported to take place in Elk County.

The punishment for the above-listed charges range from life in prison (for aggravated criminal sodomy) to 46 months in prison and a $100,000 fine (for indecent liberties of a child).

Upon being booked in jail in Wallace County, bail was set at $500,000. Baum asked District Magistrate Judge Steve Unruh for a supervised release as he prepares to defend himself against the allegations. Unruh denied the release request, noting that Baum’s first concern should be to procure an attorney.

Baum is expected to return to Wallace County District Court on Monday, Aug. 9, for a preliminary hearing, at which time a judge will decide whether enough probable cause exists to have Baum bound over for a jury trail.

As in all criminal cases, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a jury or an admission of guilt.