Teacher charged with prostitution

COLUMBUS (AP) — A fourth-grade teacher had a side job as a prostitute, which included using a school computer to arrange what she thought was an afternoon tryst at a motel, authorities said Wednesday.

Amber Carter, 35, left school early Tuesday — taking a half sick-day — and was arrested in a motel parking lot in Bellefontaine, where authorities had set up a sting operation.

An anonymous e-mail was sent to the Logan County Sheriff’s Department on Feb. 4 saying a local woman was posting cash-for-sex ads on the popular Web site Craigslist, said Lt. Rob Bibart.

Detectives found the ad and arranged Tuesday’s meeting with Carter, he said.

Detectives remained unclear how long Carter had been advertising for sex, Bibart said. Bellefontaine, a small city of 13,000, is about 50 miles northwest of Columbus.

Carter was placed on administrative leave, said Bellefontaine City Schools Superintendent Larry Anderson. She has worked for the district for 13 years, starting as a kindergarten teacher.

Carter was charged with misdemeanor prostitution and a felony count of unauthorized use of property, related to the school computer. She was released from Logan County jail Tuesday.

A woman answering a phone listing for Amber Carter in Bellefontaine hung up on a reporter seeking comment Wednesday.