LAS VEGAS -- A French teacher at the Las Vegas Academy was accused of stalking a female student more than a year before he was arrested on charges of alleged sexual misconduct.

In an arrest report, 38-year-old Ronny Hoffman told investigators he hugged the girl but said it was not sexual in any way.

The girl claimed that in late 2007 Hoffman accosted her in a school bathroom, holding her against a sink while he molested her.

She said he stopped when another student entered the bathroom and Hoffman, in an attempt to cover up the incident, claimed he was coming to her aid because he thought he heard her crying.

Months later the girl told police Hoffman was stalking her at school and showed up at a concert she was attending at the Hard Rock resort.

Hoffman later obtained a lawyer and accused the girl of stalking him, the arrest report stated.

Detectives said in a polygraph test, Hoffman denied ever touching the girl or being in the bathroom. In a later interview, he admitted to police that he hugged her, saying he hugged a lot of students in a friendly way.

Hoffman is charged with lewdness and coercion.