A Skaneateles High School teacher was arrested Tuesday on charges he allegedly made sexual contact with a student several years ago.

Elbridge-based state police charged William A. Milham, 36, of Syracuse, with three counts of third-degree criminal sexual act. The charges revolve around a sexual encounter Milham is accused of having with a student under the age of 17 about five years ago, according to troopers.

Few details about the case were available Tuesday night. Skaneateles Central School District Superintendent Phil D'Angelo said the arrest of the social studies teacher and student government advisor came as a shock.

“He's always done a good job and was very well-received by students,” D'Angelo said of Milham, who has been with the district since 1997. “We were kind of blind-sided by this.”

Milham was taken into custody at the close of the school day. He has been suspended with pay and benefits, as prescribed by law for tenured employees of public school districts, D'Angelo said.

“Mr. Milham has been suspended from his teaching duties and his involvement in the school district activities pending further action by law enforcement authorities,” he said. “The suspension should not be interpreted as a binding of guilt by the district. It is simply a precaution that is typically taken to protect the students in these unfortunate situations,” D'Angelo said. “At this stage, under such circumstances, the district would rather err on the side of caution.”

He added the school intends to cooperate fully with authorities. Anyone with information about the incident can contact state police Investigator Dave Longo at 689-3353.