Chrystal Vega has been identified as the Dardanelle, Arkansas teacher that has been charged with sexual assault due to her alleged relationship with an unidentified teen student.
According to reports from River Valley Now, Vega was formally charged with sexual assault in the first degree on Friday, October 12. Police believe the sexual incident occurred in September.
Authorities say that after the student came forward, an investigation was launched. During the investigation, police officers obtained security footage from cameras around a Russellville, Arkansas park and were able to corroborate the unidentified victim’s story.
Additionally, Vega admitted to having a “texting relationship” and that some of her texts had “crossed the line.” She admitted that she had met the victim at the park, but denied having sexual contact with him.
If convicted of first-degree sexual assault, Vega fans 6-30 years in prison and face a fine up to $15,000.
Vega is just the latest teacher to be charged for inappropriate conduct. Over the course of just a few months, educators across the country were arrested for entering into an inappropriate relationship with their students, Tennessee teacher Janet Smothers, LaToya Parker, Florida teacher Caroline Lawson, 26-year-old Allyson Moran and Katherine Ross Ridenhour were all arrested on similar charges. A woman named Kayla Sprinkles was arrested in North Carolina for similar sexual crimes.
The list goes on to include 22-year-old Oklahoma science teacher Hunter Day, 28-year-old teacher Megan Kotarski, 23-year-old history teacher Michelle Schiffer, 29-year-old Alyssia Marie Reddy, special education teacher Jordan Ondish and 28-year-old Samantha Fitzpatrick have all been allegedly carrying on inappropriate relationships with their students.
34-year-old Miranda Nicole Pauley was charged with similar crimes, Nancy Leigh Ann Brann, a former Christian school teacher, was arrested for having sex with a student, Coine Audiat pleaded no contest to having sex with a minor in 2016 and 23-year-old Darci Lake was arrested for an inappropriate relationship. 27-year-old Brittany Zamora from Arizona was arrested on similar charges. Keri Hoffman, 35, was also arrested for an alleged relationship with a student. Similarly, 29-year-old Tiffany Ranweiler-Oblander and 33-year-old Maren Oates were arrested on similar charges.
More recently, 29-year-old Haylie Smart, 25-year-old Alaina Ferguson, and 32-year-old Laura Bucy were charged with similar crimes.