OLATHE, Kan. — A middle school teacher in the Unified School District No. 232, accused of sex crimes, is now facing multiple charges.

Keil E. Hileman, 53, was charged Wednesday in Johnson County court with six counts of unlawful sexual relations.

The charges stem from incidents beginning in June 2017 to October 2022 and involved “fondling or touching with a person 16 or more years old.”

Hileman was a teacher at Monticello Trails Middle School in Shawnee.

The school district said it was made aware of the allegations against Hileman on Oct. 6 and acted quickly to remove him from the classroom and school campus and was placed on leave during an administrative investigation.

Collin Montgomery was a former student of Hileman. He went to Monticello and graduated from Mill Valley in 2021. He tells FOX4 Hileman’s “Museum Connections” class was one everyone wanted.

“I was just in shock because I had project in his class and I know a bunch of students at Mill Valley High School currently,” Montgomery said. “I was just worried about them and my friends and people I know.”

Hileman will not be returning to the school, according to the district. The district’s board of education will take action on his employment at a future meeting. He started working for the district in 1994.

“He was really cool. He told us cool stories. He had a family,” Montgomery said. “He was a really nice guy on the surface, it’s just kind of crazy.”

Hileman was the 2004 Kansas teacher of the year and one of four finalists for the National teacher of the year.

“Nothing matters more to our district than creating a safe and caring learning experience for every student, every day,” the district said in a statement Wednesday night.

A $250,000 cash bond has been set for Hileman.

He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday at 1:30 p.m.