Helix asst. principal fired; accused of helping student run away

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An assistant principal at Helix High School who gave a student a ride to a bus station because she was having troubles at home and wanted to see a relative in Oregon has been fired.

Joshua Stepner, 38, was fired Monday night by the La Mesa charter school's governing board, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The board voted unanimously to terminate the administrator's contract. School officials declined to elaborate on the matter, but a Helix policy bans employees from having students in their vehicles, the Union-Tribune reported.

Helix recently adopted stricter policies because the school has been marred by controversy involving student-staff relationships. Four former Helix teachers were convicted of sex crimes involving students between December 2006 and September 2008.

The Grossmont Union High School District board considered revoking Helix's charter earlier this year because of the scandals, but the action was never approved.

At no point was Stepner suspected of having a sexual relationship with the student to whom he gave a ride, La Mesa police Lt. David Bond said.

In addition to losing his job, Stepner is facing a misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He could be sentenced to one year in jail or fined up to $2,500, if convicted. He is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 5 for arraignment in El Cajon Superior Court.

The girl who got a ride from Stepner returned home unharmed.

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