Alabama teacher accused of having sex with high school student month after getting teaching certificate
MADISON COUNTY, ALABAMA: A former Alabama special education teacher allegedly started having sex with a high school student just a month after receiving her teaching certificate.
Catherine Lynn Coffey, 22, has been charged with engaging in a sex act with a student aged under 19 while working as a school employee, the Madison County Sheriff's Office shared on February 28.
The sheriff's department "received allegations of improper sexual misconduct between a teacher and a student" on February 24. As per the sheriff's office, the alleged victim was interviewed "at which time criminal acts were determined did take place".
Authorities shared with Oxygen that the alleged sexual relationship happened between August and December last year. Coffey was released on $31,000 bail on February 28 afternoon, the Sheriff's department said. The former teacher could very well become a registered sex offender and can even face upto 30 years in prison if convicted. She has not entered a plea yet.
The woman's Facebook profile stated that she was a special education teacher at Madison County Elementary and Middle Schools. She had also been an assistant softball coach at the Madison County High School where the alleged victim also goes to school.
Online records reveal that Coffey had received her Alabama state teaching certificate in July, just a month before the reported illicit acts started. Post her arrest, Coffey was put on administrative leave. She later handed in her resignation. Madison County spokesperson Tim Hall shared, "She is no longer employed by our school system."
Her profile has also been removed from the school's websites. Coffey's resignation letter was obtained by WAAY31 and it read, "It deeply saddens me to inform you of my resignation. However, given the allegations against me, I feel it is in the best interest of the school."