HENDERSON, Texas — A Henderson ISD teacher has been arrested for multiple child sex crimes.
Officials confirmed Kathryn L. Prior, 35, was arrested by the Henderson Police Department and booked into the Rusk County Jail on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
She was charged with possession of child pornography, indecency with a child by sexual contact and improper relationship between an educator and a student.
The same day, Henderson ISD released a statement regarding the recent arrest of a teacher accused of having an improper relationship with a student.
"Henderson ISD was informed today of a report made to authorities of a Henderson High School teacher allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a student," the statement read. "After an initial investigation by the police department, we were advised that the teacher was arrested. HISD immediately placed the teacher on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of this matter. HISD is fully cooperating with local law enforcement and remains committed to the safety and security of our students."
Henderson police confirmed Prior was the teacher who was arrested.
The Henderson ISD website listed Prior as a vocational agriculture education teacher at the high school. She has since submitted her resignation, according to the school district.
According to the Prior's arrest affidavit, on Tuesday, police were informed she was emailing a male student on matters that were not related to school. When the student was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center, the student told the interviewer Prior "rubbed" his legs and his genitals on the outside of his clothes when she drove him home from school the day prior.
The student said he also touched Prior's breasts in the car. When police asked Prior about the allegations, she admitted to inappropriately touching the boy while she was driving.
Police say the student's mother also went through her son's Instagram account on his phone on the night of Monday, Dec. 9, and found sexually explicit messages and photos from Prior in the app. The student also sent sexually explicit photos of himself to Prior.
The affidavit states Prior also confessed to having nude photos of the student on her phone, which was confiscated by police. She told police she had been exchanging messages with the student for about two weeks before she was arrested.
Prior remains in the Rusk County Jail on $150,000 bond.
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