A Louisiana school teacher had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old foreign exchange student in front of her husband, according to local police.
Kimberly Wellman-Rich, 34, and her husband, Jeffery Rich, 36, are also alleged to have supplied the teen with marijuana and alcohol.
Wellman-Rich works for the Lafayette Parish School System, which comprises nine separate districts that run 16 schools ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Authorities have not specified which school Wellman-Rich employs her as a teacher.
She has been charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, indecent behavior with a juvenile, encouraging or contributing to child delinquency and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
Her bond was set at $72,500.
Kimberly Wellman-Rich (left), 34, a Louisiana school teacher, is alleged to have had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old male foreign exchange student. She and her husband, Jeffery Rich (right), 36, are also alleged to have supplied the teen with marijuana and alcohol
Her husband, Jeffery Paul Rich, was booked on charges of accessory after the fact to felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. His bond was set at $10,000.
Both have been freed on bond.
The teenager was removed the home once the investigation began last month, police told KFLY-TV.
The legal age of consent in Louisiana is 17. The legal drinking age in the state is 21.
Louisiana law also forbids recreational use of cannabis, though medical marijuana is legal.
On January 22, an anonymous tipster told police that Wellman-Rich was hosting a juvenile foreign exchange student in her home and having sex with him.
READ RELATED: Heart attack symptoms: The surprising sign in your back to watch out for
Police said they interviewed witnesses and gathered evidence which led them to believe that Wellman-Rich’s husband ‘had first-hand knowledge’ of the alleged abuse.
Investigators also said they learned that the couple allowed the teen to smoke marijuana and drink alcoholic beverages in their home.
LPSS administrators and Pan Atlantic, the company in charge of placing foreign exchange students with host families in the United States both worked to remove the boy from the Rich home, according to police.
The school system released a statement to KATC-TV, saying: ‘The Lafayette Parish School System is aware of the allegations of inappropriate conduct by one of our employees.
Police said they interviewed witnesses and gathered evidence which led them to believe that Wellman-Rich’s husband ‘had first-hand knowledge’ of the alleged abuse
‘Allegations of this nature will continue to be taken very seriously and will be thoroughly investigated.
‘Never will alleged inappropriate conduct of an employee be taken lightly.
‘LPSS is fully cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation. Because this is a personnel matter, no further information will be provided.’
Pan Atlantic released a statement which read: ‘We are aware of the allegations and have been providing information to the local and regulatory authorities.
‘We have been working with the student, the student’s natural family and all stakeholders to ensure the student’s safety, and the privacy of all concerned.
‘Pan Atlantic is a mission-driven organization that has a strong commitment to ensure the safety of all persons who participate in these highly regulated programs.
‘Because we have an obligation to protect the privacy of those who participate in these programs, no further information will be provided.’
Source:
