ARRAIGNMENT POSTPONED FOR NEW JUDGE

JACKSON, Mo. -- The arraignment of Jackson junior high school math teacher Thomas Mark Sprandel on charges that he had sexual contact with a 13-year-old student was postponed Monday after his defense attorney obtained a change of judge.

The arraignment tentatively was rescheduled for next Monday before Cape Gir-ardeau County Circuit Judge John Grimm.

Sprandel is charged with statutory sodomy and endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly having sexual contact with the girl in his R.O. Hawkins Junior High School classroom.

At a preliminary hearing last month, a detective testified that Sprandel told investigators he wrote numerous letters to the girl, but never engaged in sexual activity with her.

Defense attorney Al Lowes moved for a change of judge after the case was assigned to Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge William Syler.

A defense lawyer automatically is entitled to one change of judge in a case without having to state a particular reason.

Charges against Sprandel, who was suspended from his teaching job, were filed after police discovered a stillborn infant buried in the girl's back yard in Jackson on March 15.

Sprandel is free on bond.