Teacher Arrested for Alleged Sex With Student

Police say other teachers knew of the alleged affair

A 43-year-old Bucks County high school teacher has been arrested on charges stemming from an alleged sexual relationship he had with a 17-year-old female student over a five-month period of time.

Other teachers in the district knew about the alleged sexual relationship and did not report it, say school officials.

Robert C. Hawkins, a math teacher at Council Rock High School South, was arrested on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and corruption of a minor Thursday, according to authorities.

The female student was a 2009 Council rock High School South graduate, superintendent Mark Klein said in a statement. It was the district’s investigation into the alleged relationship that led to Hawkins’ arrest, said Klein.

During the district’s initial investigation, Hawkins was suspended and later fired. Two other teachers were suspended and will be fired, while a third resigned from the district.  The district discovered that the three teachers knew about the alleged relationship between the Hawkins and the student, yet never reported it, Klein said.

Hawkins, who lives on the 1800 block of Society Place in Newtown, Pa., was released after posting bail, on the condition that he stays away from the girl, all minors, and all Council Rock schools, reports the Inquirer.

Hawkins initiated phone conversations and text messaging with the girl in November, according to a police affidavit. The affidavit also states that more than 6,000 messages were exchanged; the two had sex several times at Hawkins’ house; and that Hawkins showed the girl sexually explicit pictures on his laptop of another female student, reports the Inquirer.

"This is offensive," Bucks County District Attorney Michelle Henry told the Inquirer. "Parents send their children to school for an education, not to be preyed upon by their teachers. This student is not just a minor, but one of his own students."

Police are investigating whether or not other teachers were aware of the relationship, said Henry.
 

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