SLAYTON — A Slayton teacher who was charged with criminal sexual conduct made his first appearance in Murray County District Court on Monday, court records said. Nathan Ray Wieneke, 29, is charged with six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of third-degree witness tampering.

A criminal complaint alleges that in April, a group of fifth grade students at West Elementary in Slayton reported to a paraprofessional that Wieneke had touched them inappropriately. 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. 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 students’ backs, but denied touching them under their shirts. Wieneke was placed on administrative leave and escorted from the school building on April 19.

Joe Meyer, superintendent of the Murray County Central School District, told the Independent that Wieneki had not worked with students since the allegations.

Wieneke appeared in court via Zoom on Monday, court records said. Bail was set at $250,000 without conditions, or release with conditions including that Wieneke appear in court, stay in Minnesota, have no contact with the alleged victims or their families, and have no contact with children under 18.

A future hearing date was set for Dec. 18.