'Teacher of the year' in Washington accused of raping student

A SeaTac, Wash. teacher is facing child rape charges after allegations surfaced that she sexually abused a former student living in her home.

Prosecutors contend that Darcy M. Smith, 41, first had sex with the boy when he was 14 and living in her home, according to KOMO News.

The young man told police that Smith, his sixth grade teacher, brought him into her home at age 12 and started to abuse him the following year in 2008. The young man told police that they first had sex when he was 14, and that the abuse continued until he moved out of Smith's home at age 18.

According to KOMO News, the boy told police that Smith started showering him with gifts and affection, and agreed to take care of him full time. The abuse intensified when Smith drank, the young man told police.

"Smith told him not to say anything and made him promise not to tell . . . (she) said she would go to jail and be in big trouble if he told," police said in charging papers.

Smith has been charged with three counts of child rape in King County Superior Court. Smith allegedly was still sexually involved with the student when she was named teacher of the year for the region in 2012, according to the victim's account to police. The victim, now 19, first reported the allegations in May, according to KOMO News.

Smith has been charged with three counts of third-degree child rape, and has not been jailed nor entered a plea.