Another Teacher Arrested for Sex Acts With Student

Aug. 22, 2008— -- A 24-year-old Maryland woman has become the latest high school teacher to be arrested and charged with having sexual activity with an underage student.

Autumn Leathers, of Frostburg, Md., was charged Thursday with child abuse, fourth-degree sex offense, perverted practice and second-degree assault. She is alleged to have been having sexual relations regularly this summer with a 16-year-old boy from Mountain Ride High School in Frostburg.

Leathers taught at the school, but it was unclear whether the boy was one of her students.

An administrative supervisor with the Allegany County Criminal Investigation Unit, who asked not to be named, said Leathers' alleged trysts with the student took place in her home and began this spring.

"The sexual acts took place when he was 15 years old," the supervisor said, noting that the couple was still together when Leathers was arrested.

"It was a continuous course of contact that began in May 2008," the supervisor said.

Police said they were tipped off Wednesday by an adult, though the supervisor declined to say how the tipster knew of the alleged affair.

The Criminal Investigation Unit supervisor wouldn't disclose what type of sex acts Leathers was accused of participating in with the teen but said police, as a matter of procedure in cases like this, were investigating whether there were other students involved.

School officials said Leathers has been placed on leave and faces termination proceedings. She is now free after having posted a $10,000 bond.

Leathers became the latest in a string of female teachers arrested for allegedly preying on their male students.

Frostburg is located about 150 miles northwest of Baltimore.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.