Forty-Two-Year-Old Teacher Accused of Sexual Relations with Student: ‘She Violated Trust’

 “This woman was a trusted member of this community who was responsible for the education and well-being of students, instead she violated that trust,” according to Sheriff Chad Chronister.

“As a parent, I am disgusted and hope she faces the full consequences of her actions,” he added.

In a video on Sunday, 10 Tampa Bay shared a photo of Melton:

According to the school’s website, it was “recognized nationally for its academic excellence and its innovative school-wide emphasis on character development,” noting it was celebrating its 40-year anniversary.

In its definition of child sexual abuse, the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN) said a child is unable to consent to any type of sexual activity.

“When a perpetrator engages with a child this way, they are committing a crime that can have lasting effects on the victim for years,” the organization continued:

The majority of perpetrators are someone the child or family knows. As many as 93 percent of victims under the age of 18 know the abuser. A perpetrator does not have to be an adult to harm a child. They can have any relationship to the child including an older sibling or playmate, family member, a teacher, a coach or instructor, a caretaker, or the parent of another child. According to 1 in 6, “[Child] sexual abuse is the result of abusive behavior that takes advantage of a child’s vulnerability and is in no way related to the sexual orientation of the abusive person.”