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Frederick County Circuit Court Judge Julie Stevenson Solt on Wednesday set bond at $25,000 for a teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with one of his 17-year-old students at Catoctin High School.

Robert Paul Rich, 47, is charged with six counts of fourth-degree sex offense, a misdemeanor, and one count of sexual abuse of a minor, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.

Assistant State's Attorney Lindy Angel, who suggested the bail, said the amount is not typical for the nature of the charges. "Frankly, it is usually much higher," Angel said. "But he does not have contact with the student. … He is not in the school system anymore."

Rich resigned from his position as a science teacher on Monday, said Marita Loose, a Frederick County Public Schools spokeswoman.

A Hagerstown resident, Rich had worked as a teacher in Frederick County since 2004. He was placed on administrative leave without pay in May, as soon as authorities alerted school system officials about their investigation.

Rich's relationship with the student took place between November 2008 and February 2009, said Frederick County State's Attorney Charlie Smith.

Rich did not have an attorney when he appeared in court on Wednesday. He spoke quietly and remained standing, as he responded to questions. "I don't know what I should say," he said after a long pause, when the judge gave him an opportunity to comment.

A pre-trial conference has been scheduled for July 27.

Rich, who was arrested Wednesday morning and taken to the county jail, is one of the two Frederick County teachers indicted by a grand jury on June 26 for allegedly sexually abusing students.

Adam Windsor, 25, a drama and band teacher at Ballenger Creek Middle School, is accused of videotaping female teenage students while they were undressing at school.

Windsor is facing two counts of sexual abuse of a minor, a felony, and two counts of visual surveillance with prurient intent, a misdemeanor, Smith said.

Windsor, who lives in Hagerstown and could not be reached for comment, was under a federal investigation for possession of child pornography. When investigators searched his home, they found video footage of female middle school students undressing at school. The video was on Windsor's cell phone, Smith said.

Smith said Windsor allegedly shot the footage between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30, 2008.

The next step in his case is for authorities to issue an arrest warrant, Smith said.

In a letter to parents sent on Monday, Ballenger Creek Middle School Principal Mita Badshah said Windsor was removed from the school in April.

Windsor remains on administrative leave without pay.

E-mail Margarita Raycheva at mraycheva@gazette.net.