A female substitute teacher was arrested after she was allegedly caught sending sexually explicit photos and videos to two male students, aged 13 and 14. Emily Durden, 19, was charged with indecent liberties with a student, second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, and display of material harmful to a minor for her actions while working at Crest Middle School in Shelby, North Carolina, WSOC-TV reports.
A former substitute teacher at Crest Middle School is accused of sending explicit video and messages to students. Investigators say the 19 yo teacher reportedly admitted to the crimes during her 9 days on the job, even telling a 13 yo to meet her after class for sexual activity. pic.twitter.com/RKQDPrp157
— Ken (@kenlemonWSOC9) November 22, 2021
- One of the student’s parents contacted the school. The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office said that they began investigating Durden in the hours before her arrest as one of the victim’s parents called school resource officers revealing what Durden had been up to.
- Durden admitted everything when contacted by police. During an interview with sheriff’s detectives, Durden admitted sending sexually explicit videos and photos with the two young boys. She’d only been working at Crest Middles School for four days when she began sending the messages to the boys by phone.
- One of the boys told his parents about the content. The boy was afraid that they would eventually find out on their own and he was afraid to get in trouble, so he showed his parents what was being sent to him. It was then that the parents contacted the school. It was during the police investigation that the second student was discovered.
- She was released after posting $50,000 bond. However, as part of the bond, she’s had to agree not to go anywhere near the school or have any further contact with the victims. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Durden is no longer employed by Cleveland County Schools.
- The investigation is ongoing. Authorities haven’t ruled out the possibility that there were further victims at the school and have urged any parents or students with information to get in touch with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office at 704-484-4888.
