Carolina Teacher Accused of Sex with Male Student

(Boiling Springs, South Carolina) A Spanish language teacher and swimming coach at Boiling Springs High School, Abby Kate McElhenny, 23, has been arrested for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a male student, reportedly 16 or 17 years old.

McElhenny faces a charge of sexual battery.

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said McElhenny was spotted by friends of the teen's family holding hands at a local restaurant and Spartanburg's annual Spring Fling festival.

Wright said the boy's mother checked her son's cell phone after he was caught in a lie about spending the night with a friend. He said the mother noticed that hundreds of texts were exchange between her son's phone and another number. He said the mother then had a friend call the number and pretend to sell McElhenny a newspaper subscription. He said that is how the mother figured out who her son was texting.

On Tuesday, McElhenny resigned her teaching position. Earlier today she turned herself in to the authorities.