Alabama Teacher Accused of Sex with Male Students

(Jefferson County, Alabama) A 34-year-old special education teacher at Clay-Chalkville Middle School, Julie Pritchett, has been arrested for allegedly committing sex crimes against two male students.

Authorities say that other students also had sexual contact with Pritchett but she wasn't charged because the boys were over the age of consent (16).

Pritchett has been charged with two counts of second-degree sodomy and one count of second-degree sexual abuse.

Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Randy Christian said Pritchett was the sponsor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the Middle School along with being a special education teacher. She resigned her tenured teaching position last month after learning she was under investigation.

Sheriff's investigators identified eight male students who attend Clay-Chalkville High School with whom Pritchett is alleged to have had sexual relations, Christian said.

Pritchett was the sponsor for the high school's Diamond Dolls, the hostesses for the baseball team. It was through that position, Christian said, that she came into contact with some of her former students who were involved in the high school sports program.

Christian said Pritchett started a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old former student. That relationship led to sex acts with his friends, Christian said.

The sex acts were initiated by Pritchett, who used several methods of approaching the boys, Christian said. Some of the acts took place on the school's campus and others at the homes of the victims.

Pritchett is in custody with bond set at $66,000.


[Update 12/11/08]

Now 35, Julie Pritchett has been indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury on sodomy and sexual abuse charges. Authorities say Pritchett had sex with at least eight boys between the ages of 15 and 19.