BRIGHTON - A former charter high school teacher who is the wife of the principal has surrendered to authorities on a charge of having sexual contact with a male student.

Carrie McCandless, 29, faces charges of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. If convicted, she faces up to 12 years in prison.

Investigators say the alleged incident took place in late October during a Brighton Charter High School trip to Estes Park. Investigators said McCandless spent time alone in a room at the YMCA of the Rockies camp with the 17-year-old boy.

McCandless turned herself in Tuesday.

McCandless has been fired from her job teaching social studies at Brighton Charter High, where she had worked for six years. Her husband, Chris McCandless, is the principal. They did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

Carrie McCandless' first court appearance was scheduled for Dec. 5 in Larimer County District Court in Fort Collins.