A teacher in the US who is accused of carrying out an inappropriate relationship with a minor student has been arrested again for a similar incident of sexual battery.
Hayley Close-Hallmark, a 35-year-old Florida teacher who was once named Escambia County’s social studies teacher of the year, was first arrested in February this year following “lewd and lascivious conduct with a student by an authority figure”, according to CBS Miami.
Police say the victim was a ninth-grade female student who admitted the relationship to another teacher, who then reported it.
The interactions began as texting one another during the 2017-18 school year, but allegedly evolved into sexting before becoming physical.
At the time, the victim was assisting Close-Hallmark with coaching the school’s soccer team in Okaloosa County.
Their relationship allegedly ended when the student turned 17 in 2020.
Close-Hallmark was most recently a history teacher and coach at Ruckel Middle School in Niceville. She was arrested and suspended without pay.
Get latest news headlines delivered free
Want all the latest shocking news and views from all over the world straight into your inbox?
We've got the best royal scoops, crime dramas and breaking stories – all delivered in that Daily Star style you love.
Our great newsletters will give you all you need to know, from hard news to that bit of glamour you need every day. They'll drop straight into your inbox and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.
You can sign up here – you won't regret it…
In March this year, she pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
On April 13 this year, authorities arrested the suspect again on charges of sexual battery against a 15-year-old student that allegedly occurred in 2019.
Northwest Florida Daily News reports Assistant State Attorney Christine Bosau said the latest incident happened at a school dance team event in Osceola County.
Bosau added that there was enough evidence gathered to charge Close-Hallmark again and said the suspect also coached the dance team at the school.
Close-Hallmark is being held without bond at the Okaloosa County Jail and has a pre-trial conference scheduled for June 14.
Source: Read Full Article
