Colorado School Office Worker Accused of Sex with Boy

(Canon City, Colorado) A 39-year-old clerk and office supervisor at Fremont Middle School, Stephanie Kay Bellino, was arrested early this month for allegedly engaging in sex with a 13-year-old boy. Bellino faces charges of sexual assault of a child by a person in a position of trust.

She had been under investigation since mid-August when concerned individuals at the school alerted the police. Apparently, Bellino was known to frequently communicate to students via text messaging and some were considered inappropriate.

Authorities say when the 13-year-old was questioned about the text messages, he denied any sexual relationship with Bellino -- even though she expressed love for him and both had discussed explicit sex acts.

Three days later, the boy tearfully admitted to having sex five times with Bellino at her home, in June and July. The boy said he began receiving text messages from Bellino in October 2007. The relationship began to escalate, with the boy meeting her at her office after school, and at her home.

Furthermore, a police officer used the student's phone to pose as the student and send text messages to Bellino, whose responses allegedly became sexual in nature.

Bellino was booked into custody with bond set at $50,000. The Florence-Penrose School District placed Bellino on administrative leave.