Cheerleading coach charged with sex crime
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[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/05/18/art.vert.cheerleading.coach.jpg caption="Christie Elliot, 25, was charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation and sexual conduct with a minor." width=292 height=320]
Gabriel Falcon
AC360° Writer
An English teacher and cheerleading coach at an Arizona high school has been arrested for having an illicit relationship with a student, police said.
Christie Elliot, 25, was charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation and sexual conduct with a minor.
According to the Tucson Police Department, Elliot had inappropriate physical contact with a child at Empire High School. Authorities said the child was one of her students, but would not divulge the gender or age of the alleged victim.
Elliot was arrested after the child’s parent found disturbing messages on the student’s cell phone, police said. “The parent reported the messages to the school because they believed the messages were from the child’s English teacher who is also the cheerleading coach,” the police added.
After interviewing the student and Elliot, investigators determined that a crime of a sexual nature had been committed.
“This case illustrates the parental vigilance that is needed to keep parents aware of what is happening in their children’s lives,” the police said.
Calvin Baker, the Vail School District Superintendent, told CNN Elliot was directed to have no further contact with students after the allegations surfaced.
“Once the police concluded their investigation, we judged there was sufficient evidence to make the decision that she would not be coming back to a classroom in the school district,” Baker said. “She was on a temporary non-renewing contract so it wasn’t necessary for us to terminate her employment. She simply has not and will not be offered a contact for next year.”
Attempts to contact an attorney for Elliot were not successful.
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Filed under: 360° Radar • Crime & Punishment • Gabe Falcon |
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Dang, where were these teachers when I was in school.
These teachers are just plain sick in their minds to be having illegal contact with students. We leave our kids in their care all day, and hope/pray that their well being is always cared for.
Instead, we have preditors such as this woman.
She needs to be locked up for years, to think about what she has done.
This young teacher taught at one of the more affluent school districts in the Tucson Arizona area. However, the age difference between the male victim and her is not a great as it seems. Also, she turned herself into the Pima County Sheriff's Office is a plus. She realizes that she made a horrible mistake or so it seems. Unfortunately, this is happening more and more across the country, not just here in 'rural' Arizona. Involved parents brought this case to light, and we need more, not less of them.
Did they check her for immigration papers?
Being a high chool student myself I see with the new wave of technology teachers are more frequently involved in a more personal relationship with their students. I know several teachers at my school have gotten in trouble this year for texting with students even though they meant no harm. It just always seems to lead to a problem. So many teachers are in their early twenties and with students in high school being in their late teens I think that just opens the door for problems. Teachers try and re-live their highschool moments through students they get to attached to. Parents don't need to think "oh how nice" when a teacher seems to pay special attention to their child. They need wake up and realize there may be a problem and they should expect the same treatment for all students.
Not again!!! Sexual predators are getting younger, that's so scary. You don't know who you can trust your child with anymore. It just makes me sick when I hear these same stories over and over again, whether its a man or a woman.