A state judge ordered this morning the release of a former all-girls Sacred Hearts Academy teacher who was fired amid allegations that he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old student. 

William E. Plourde, 53, has been in custody since Aug. 7 when he called Honolulu police and told them he wanted to turn himself in for allegedly having sexual contact with a minor. His bail was $200,000.

Following the recommendations of the court’s Intake Services Center, Circuit Judge Glenn Kim ordered Plourde released under the supervision of the ISC. 

While on release Plourde will be electronically-monitored with a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, and must stay away from the Sacred Hearts Kaimuki campus.

Another judge had previously ordered him not to have any contact with his alleged victim during his prosecution. The girl’s parents also obtained a restraining order against Plourde prohibiting him from contacting their daughter for three years.

An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment last month charging Plourde with seven counts of sexual assault for allegedly having sexual contact with a minor. One of the charges carries a mandatory 20-year prison sentence. The indictment also indicates the state’s intention to seek extended sentencing, which would lengthen the 20-year term to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Police said the girl told them Plourde, her former homeroom teacher, sexually molested her in his car in Mililani.

The indictment charges Plourde with sexually assaulting the girl on more than one occasion.

Betty White, Sacred Hearts Head of School, said Plourde was fired Aug. 7 within an hour of school administrators receiving and confirming a claim against him.