A former teacher with Habersham County Schools is facing a long list of charges related to a reported inappropriate relationship with a student.
Habersham County Sheriff's Office Major Murray Kogod said arrest warrants have been issued for Leslie Terrell, 34, of Clarkesville, a former teacher at the county's 9th Grade Academy.
"On or about Friday, March 19, 2021, the Habersham County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division was contacted by the Habersham County School System regarding a teacher providing her personal cellular telephone number to a student, and communications with the student that crossed the professional threshold," Kogod said, sharing information released in a press statement by the sheriff's office.
Initially, the school system believed Terrell was guilty of policy and ethical violations, but system officials asked law enforcement to become involved to make sure the "student's safety and well-being were not compromised in any manner."
During the course of the investigation, detectives determined Terrell had moved beyond inappropriate messaging with the student to what detectives called a physical, sexual relationship.
Kogod said criminal arrest warrants were issued for one count each on the following offenses:
- Statutory Rape (16-6-3) - FELONY
- Child Molestation (16-6-4) - FELONY
- Enticing a Child (16-6-5) - FELONY
- Sexual Assault by Persons with Supervisory or Disciplinary Authority [16-6-5.1(b)(1)] - FELONY
- Influencing a Witness (16-10-93) - FELONY
- False Statements (16-10-20) FELONY
- Obstruction/Hindering Law Enforcement (16-10-24) - MISDEMEANOR
- Distributing Obscene Materials (16-12-80) - MISDEMEANOR OF A HIGH AND AGGRAVATED NATURE
- Electronically Furnishing Obscene materials to a Minor (16-12-100.1) - MISDEMEANOR
- Interference with Custody (16-5-45) - MISDEMEANOR
Kogod said there was no indication that any of the illegal activity took place on school property.
The school system issued a statement on the arrest, saying that Terrell had resigned from her job on March 8 as system officials began an investigation into charges that she was "engaged in text communications with a student that were of a personal nature." Terrell was removed from the classroom when school system officials were first notified about the possible violations.
"The safety and privacy interests of the students of our School System are our primary concern. School officials are developing a plan for ensuring the well-being of the student," the statement read.
Terrell had worked at the school for about a year and a half before she resigned.
The criminal investigation is ongoing.
Leslie Terrell, photo courtesy of the Habersham County Sheriff's Office.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/3/991812/former-habersham-county-teacher-accused-of-inappropriate-involvement-with-student