TROY -- A high school social studies teacher pleaded guilty Tuesday to having sexual relations with a 16-year-old male student.

Kirk Hellwig, 37, of Saratoga Springs, could receive up to a year in jail for pleading guilty to first-degree disseminating indecent material over the Internet to a minor and third-degree criminal sex act.

According to a plea agreement, the former Columbia High School teacher must surrender his state teaching license for life and resign from the East Greenbush Central School District, prosecutors said. He has taught social studies at the school since 1999.

Hellwig declined to comment Tuesday.

He was arrested May 21 on three counts each of felony third-degree criminal sex act and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.

Police said Hellwig did not force sex on the student, who is not old enough to provide legal consent.

Hellwig is free on bond pending sentencing Oct. 9. He faces between nine months and a year in jail and 10 years probation.