Kentucky high school teacher who allegedly had sex with 17-year-old student eight times says he was old enough to consent
A Kentucky based former high school teacher is challenging the state law under which she was arrested for having sex with a minor student, who she says consented to the relationship. Haley Reed, 37, admitted to authorities that she repeatedly had sex with the student, but is defending herself saying that the 17-year-old student was old enough to legally consent to have sex with her on school grounds eight times before she was arrested in June 2018.
Though the age of consent is 16 years in Kentucky, it is raised to 18 if the offender is in a position of trust or authority over the victim.
WLKY reported that Reed was charged with multiple counts of rape and sodomy, along with unlawful transaction with a minor. Reed, who is married with kids, said in a court filing that the student was old enough to consent to the sexual relationship under the state law, thereby making her arrest a violation of her rights under Kentucky's constitution. The police had begun investigating the Oldham County High School choir director after they received a tip of a sexual relationship between her and the student. The authorities claimed that Reed admitted to engaging in sexual intercourse and oral sex with a juvenile student between April and June 2018.
On the last day of school, Reed was arrested with a bond set at $25,000. The indictment states that she was charged because she was "in a position of authority" of someone under the age of 18, reports the Daily Mail. Among the multiple charges she is facing are 10 counts of third-degree rape, five counts of third-degree sodomy and 15 counts of first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor. Her attorney, Gregory Simms implied back in February that prosecutors had considered a plea deal for his client, the details of which were not discussed, reports the outlet.
Reed also asked for permission to attends two events for her kids, who are in grade school. She was ordered to have no contact with minors, the victim, or the victim's family, who have shown up for her court appearances.
"I didn't know if it'd be a violation," Simms said of his client's request to be with her children, reports Daily Mail, as her trial is set to begin in November.
The district has issued a statement sharing: "District administrators are aware of the charges against a teacher at Oldham County High School. We are cooperating with police during this investigation and the teacher will have no further contact with students for the remainder of the year."