SLAYTON — A teacher at a Slayton elementary school has been charged with six counts of criminal sexual conduct, court records said.

A criminal complaint filed in Murray County District Court last week alleged that Nathan Ray Wieneke, 29, inappropriately touched several students at West Elementary School in Slayton.

Wieneke is also charged with two counts of witness tampering, court records said.

The criminal complaint alleges that on April 19, six girls in the fifth grade told a paraprofessional that Wieneke had been rubbing their backs, and saying things that made them feel uncomfortable.

The students allegedly told investigators that Wieneke would put his hand under their shirts and rub their backs when they went up to his desk to ask questions. The students also said Wieneke would touch their buttocks or thighs over their clothes, the complaint alleges.

One student said Wieneke later yelled at them when he found out they had talked to the paraprofessional, and asked what they had talked about, the complaint alleges.

The complaint said Wieneke allegedly admitted to school administrators that he rubbed the girls’ backs, but denied touching them under their shirts. Wieneke was placed on administrative leave and escorted from the school building on April 19, the complaint said.

Wieneke faces charges of second degree criminal sexual conduct, which is a felony that carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, a $35,000 fine, or both. He also faces charges of third degree witness tampering, which is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.

Wieneke is scheduled to make his first court appearance via Zoom on Oct. 2, court records said.

On Friday, Joe Meyer, superintendent of the Murray County Central school district, said the district could not comment on the charges because the district can’t discuss private data of its employees or students.

“We can confirm that the employee in question was immediately placed on administrative leave and has not worked with students since the allegations arose,” Meyer said. “While this legal process is playing out, the district will continue to focus on supporting our students and providing them with a safe and supporting learning environment to help them thrive.”