Female teacher, 31, faces up to seven years behind bars for 'performing a sex act on her 18-year-old student in her classroom and sending partially nude photos'

  • Even though the 18-year-old is of legal age, the relationship is still misconduct because it is between teacher and student
  • Emily Nesbit, an 11th grade English teacher, came under suspicion after another student noticed the text messages from her on the boy's cell phone
  • Nesbit's lawyer Brian Perry said she had made 'a series of bad decisions at a low point in her life'

By Paul Thompson

PUBLISHED: 11:27 EST, 16 March 2014 | UPDATED: 12:58 EST, 16 March 2014

Former Cumberland Valley teacher Emily Nesbit, 31, was charged Friday with engaging in a sex act with a student

Former Cumberland Valley teacher Emily Nesbit, 31, was charged Friday with engaging in a sex act with a student

A high school teacher has been accused of performing a sex act on a student in her classroom.

Emily Nesbit is also alleged to have sent photos of herself partially undressed to the 18 year old as well as exchanging text messages where she said she wanted sex.

The 31-year-old is facing up to seven years in jail after being charged with institutional sexual assault.

While the victim is at the age of consent officials in Pennsylvania said his age was irrelevant where teachers are accused of sexual misconduct with their students.

Nesbit, an 11th grade English teacher, came under suspicion after another student noticed the text messages from her on the boy's cell phone.

Court documents reveal that Nesbit and the teen were in regular contact for two months.

Nesbit, who was the student's English teacher at Cumberland Valley High School in Cumberland County,  sent him text messages that police said implied she had a desire to have sex with him.

They also exchanged photographs of each other in various states of undress, police said.

Nesbit confirmed to performing the sex act with the student in an interview with police.

Her lawyer Brian Perry said she had made "a series of bad decisions at a low point in her life."

Charges were brought against Nesbit within days of officials being alerted.

The student victim was interviewed within hours of the police being tipped off and Nesbit, from South Middleton Township, resigned her position on Wednesday.

Cumberland valley High School has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to teacher student relationships, even if the student is of age

Cumberland valley High School has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to teacher student relationships, even if the student is of age

Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed said teacher-student sex was becoming a regular occurrence.

'Frankly, we've had too many of these cases involving school employees,' Freed said.

'There's nothing more important for our youth than how we educate them and put them out into the world.'

'This was not a difficult decision (to bring charges),' Freed added.

Fred Withum, superintendent of the Cumberland Valley School District, said Nesbit's arrest had caused concern for parents and other students.

'While we know that public schools are a reflection of society, the Board of School Directors, parents, educators, the community and our students expect that the Cumberland Valley School District is better,?' Withum said as he read from a prepared statement.

'Our desire is not to be a reflection of society, but to reflect the best that society can be.'

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Never had good looking teachers like that when I was at school in the 70's ! - Manc33, Plymouth, United Kingdom, 16/03/2014 4:47 pm I love comments like this from men. They didn't have the amazing affects of photoshop either. Plus I imagine half the Pictures that DM posts of these women come from their Facebook account. And let's face it; no one posts bad shots of them selves on the internet. If that's the best shot of her I think the young boy could of done better.

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In England this woman would walk free. In America thy treat such breaches of trust seriously. Any innuendo filled comments about how teachers were not like that in their day should be treated with disdain. Good to see predatory women being treated equally for once.

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What a disgrace to womanhood! :-(

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They, Men and Women child abusers will always try finding work with children,and have been doing this from day dot,that is their nature,in the past they left little evidence of their crimes,but they are been caught out by their need to text and phone their victims a form of constant control over them.

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Hopefully Cumberland Valley School District will take this predator out of the school system there >shameful

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I am sure he was very happy about it!

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7 years seems draconian to me...

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This is epidemic in America. If this was happening to ANY OTHER PROFESSION it would be national news. If this was priests again can you imagine the outcry? Some teachers unions back some of these pedophiles. It must be national news about all these monthly arrests for teachers molesting and raping children.

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Lucky guy

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Second case of a woman and a student in 2 days, What will happen nothing..

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