KTRE.com Lufkin and Nacogdoches |Local Teacher Arrested

Local Teacher Arrested

by Tashun Chism

Forty one year old Huntington ISD teacher Melissa Williams turned herself in today after being accused of having sexual contact with a 17 year old student.

East Texas resident Kurtis samples said, "She broke the law. She broke the trust of the parents and the teachers and had sex with a student. You don't do that, and that's all there is to it."

East Texas resident Bonnie Mead told us, "The people that are responsible for teaching our kids right and wrong are the ones that are participating and it doesn't help our children's morality."

The Huntington ISD police department began the investigation earlier this week after getting tipped off by Child Protective Services. The age of sexual consent in the state of Texas is 17, but a 2003 law makes it illegal for a teacher to have sexual contact with any student in the same school. Cases where female teachers are having sexual relationships with male students have become common in recent years. One expert tells us the media plays a huge part in that trend.

"If you go back to '67 when The Graduate came out, every young guy's fantasy was being seduced by an older woman. That's essentially what's happening in these kids of situations," Lufkin pyschologist Sid Epperson said.

Williams is currently being held in the Angelina County Jail. She's charged with improper relationship between an educator and a student. Authorities tell us her alleged victim has already returned to school and is doing fine.

Williams could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.