The trial for a former Harlan Community High School teacher accused of the sexual abuse of a teenager, is set to begin Tuesday morning at the Shelby County Courthouse, in Harlan. 73-year old Lee Gordon Nelson, of Harlan faces sexual exploitation by a school employee and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse charges. If convicted of the charges, Nelson could face a maximum 7 year prison sentence and fines of $7,500.

Nelson was arrested on July 23rd 2013, following an investigation by the Harlan Police Department, Division of Criminal Investigation and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. The Iowa Department of Public Safety reported in May 2013, that a 17-year old female and her parents had contacted police and reported Nelson had been saying rude and inappropriate things to the victim as well as touching her inappropriately since October, 2012.

At the time, Nelson was employed by the Harlan Community School District as a mentor. The Harlan PD requested the DCI’s assistance in June, 2013. The report from the DCI stated between October 2012 and April 2013, Nelson allegedly committed assault by touching the female victim who Nelson was mentoring with intent to commit sexual abuse and engaged in a pattern or scheme of conduct to engage in sexual conduct with the victim.

Nelson was employed with the Harlan Community School District for 35 years before resigning from his mentoring position on April 22nd, 2013.