NC Teacher Accused of Sex with Female Student

(Charlotte, North Carolina) A 27-year-old English teacher at Hopewell High School, Amanda Maria Athey, was suspended by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female student.

Earlier this month, the father of a 16-year-old student told police he taped telephone conversations and found emails between the teacher and his daughter, according to the court documents.

In one conversation, the pair talked about having had sex the last time the teacher visited the teenager's home, the court documents say. In another, the student told the teacher her parents might help her through her financial troubles. The teacher responded that the parents would not give her money because of the relationship.

Thus far, Athey has not been charged with a crime. The investigation continues.

Tip: Don Morgenstern


[Update 08/09/07]

The plot thickens. According to this report, Athey turned herself in to the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday afternoon.

The former teacher was served four warrants, charged with three counts of indecent liberties between a teacher and student and one count of sexual activity between a teacher and student.

Authorities have conducted a search at Athey's home in Harrisburg.

According to the search warrant, Athey told the student's parents she was married and her husband Cal had a vasectomy and wasn't able to have children. That's why she said, she loved to be around this student.

The parents didn't buy it, so the father began recording their phone conversations and making copies of emails and instant messages.

In the warrant, Athey admitted to having a sexual affair with the 16-year-old rising junior.

Athey was released on a $4,000 unsecured bond.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system and the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office deserve credit for acting quickly on the allegations. Athey deserves some recognition for producing the world's lamest excuse for her alleged relationship with a student and for making a vasectomy sound somewhat like a war wound.