Teacher accused of pupil sex

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (AP) — A teacher is facing charges of sending nude pictures of herself and sexually related text messages to a 14-year-old student’s cell phone.

Beth Ann Chester, 26, of Scott, was charged with three counts of sexual abuse of children for each of the pictures, unlawful contact with a minor, child endangerment, corruption of minors, criminal solicitation and related counts.

Police began investigating after Moon Area School District officials reported Thursday that Chester may have had in appropriate contact with a student. Chester, a health and physical education teacher, was arrested Friday.

The boy’s parents discovered suggestive text messages, then met with Chester on Dec. 26, police said. She resigned the next day, citing personal reasons, authorities said.

Police said the boy denied physical contact with Chester, but Moon Township Chief Leo McCarthy said there probably was contact and that Chester will be charged with sexual assault.

The boy told police he and Chester began exchanging text messages in late October, according to police. They also devised a system to spend extra time with one another at school, police said.

The boy also told police he “felt he was in love with the teacher now,” police said.

McCarthy also said Chester made “substantial admissions” to police.

A number for Chester could not immediately be located.

In one text message, police said, Chester called the boy “sexy” and made a graphic reference to his body.

Chester has been employed with the district for more than two years, according to district solicitor Jack Cambest said.

Chester was being held in the Allegheny County jail after failing to post $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Tuesday.