Parents gathered outside a Morton school Monday morning to protest the planned return of a teacher who was jailed on suspicion that he inappropriately touched students, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

Michael Moulton teaches history at Morton Junior-Senior High School. He was charged late last year in connection with inappropriately touching female students in 2008 after four girls said he touched them.

The 56-year-old teacher said the touching was intended as encouraging pats on the back, but he pleaded guilty by Alford plea, not admitting guilt to charges, but acknowledging he would likely be found guilty of an assault charge.

Moulton served 20 days in the Lewis County Jail and was suspended and then fired by the school district. The teacher won an appeal of his firing in March when an independent hearing officer ruled Maulton should be given his job back because he couldn't be suspended and fired for the same complaints.

Moulton was scheduled to return to class Monday as a group gathered outside the school with signs. One read, “Protect your children or we will.” Another said, “Who is looking out for our children?”

The teacher called in sick.

The school superintendent and principal at the school said they are angry about the situation and have been inundated with phone calls and threats by parents who said they don’t want their children in Moulton's classroom.

Superintendent Tom Manke said he'll have to confer with the district's attorney and school board to decide what will eventually happen.

Many parents have pulled their children out of his history class. Manke said those students will be taught through an online program.