SC Teacher Faces Child Sex Charges

(Laurens County, South Carolina) Karen Robbins, a 49-year-old former special education teacher at the Thornwell School and the Bell Street Middle School, was arrested Saturday by Clinton Police for allegedly engaging in sex with a child under 16.

Robbins has been charged with three counts of a lewd act on a child, and three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a child.

According to arrest warrants, the incidents happened over a three month period back in 2005. Police claim Robbins had sex with a teen victim at her house, and in her car off Mill Pond Road in Clinton.

All of this happened while Robbins was teacher at the Thornwell School in Laurens County. The school's President, Skip Stansell, says he's shocked by the allegations. "I'm dumbfounded. I'm stunned. I'm offended."

Stansell says Robbins taught special education at Thornwell for more than a decade. She left on good terms in 2006, right before the school closed its doors. Robbins then taught at Bell Street Middle School through August of this year.

Robbins was booked at the Laurens County Detention Center and released on bond Saturday night.