LA CRESCENT — A special education teacher at a La Crescent school is charged with molesting children after he was confronted by his students.

Thirty-seven-year-old Jason David Barker is charged in Houston County District Court with second-degree criminal sexual conduct and fifth-degree sexual conduct with children younger than 13.

Prosecutors say five students at La Crescent Montessori Academy confronted Barker earlier this month about his behavior. School staff called police and Baker was arrested at his home Jan. 18.

A criminal complaint says one student told school staff Baker put his hands down her pants and touched her breasts. Baker has denied the allegations, but says sometimes he pushes the “boundaries in teaching.”