US Teacher Charged With Sex Abuse After Being Found Undressed in Car With Student

A married substitute teacher in Nebraska was arrested for felony sexual abuse by a school employee after being found undressed in a car with a 17-year-old student. The incident occurred when deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked on a dead-end road near Bennington.

They discovered the 45-year-old teacher, Erin Ward, and the student in the backseat of a Honda sedan. The student was later found nearby wearing only underwear and a T-shirt after fleeing the scene.

Ward confessed to having sex with the student and was arrested and booked into jail. The investigation is ongoing, and both Ward and the student received minor medical attention following the incident.

The vehicle involved belonged to Ward and her spouse. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is working closely with Omaha Public Schools on the matter.

Burke High School, where the teacher had worked, issued a statement stating that the individual would not be returning to the school or any others in the district. They also emphasized their commitment to the safety and well-being of their students and mentioned that counsellors would be available for support.

In a separate incident, Jessica Sawicki, a 37-year-old English teacher at Hamilton High School West in Trenton, was charged with five counts of second-degree sexual assault and five counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.