PHOTO BY JOHN LOK/THE SEATTLE TIMES

Former Garfield High teacher Taryn Fairbanks at her arraignment Wednesday morning.

A former Garfield High School teacher pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a charge accusing her of having sex with a 17-year-old student.

The bail for Taryn Fairbanks, 33, was reduced from $50,000 to $25,000 during a brief arraignment in King County Superior Court. She was making arrangements to post the bail and is not expected to be booked into the King County Jail, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecutor's Office.

Fairbanks was charged last week with first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor. Fairbanks, previously known as Taryn Stermer, resigned from the Seattle school district less than a month ago and moved back to her native Las Vegas. She appeared in a King County courtroom for the arraignment.

The 17-year-old alleged victim told police that Fairbanks had sex with him June 23 during a party at his home while his parents were out of town, police said. While the age of consent for a sexual relationship in Washington state is 16, it is criminal for a teacher or anyone else in a position of power to have sexual relations with anyone under the age of 18.

A school district spokeswoman said Fairbanks taught language arts and advised the school newspaper, The Messenger. Previously, she taught in the Kent and Renton school districts.

First-degree sexual misconduct with a minor is a felony and carries a sentence range of six to 12 months in jail.