Middle School Teacher's Aide Charged With Rape For Alleged Relationship With Student

A 33-year-old teacher's aide at a Pickaway County, Ohio, middle school has been arrested for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a student, police said.

Mandy Davis was arrested Wednesday and charged with felony rape, gross sexual imposition and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, local newspaper the Columbus Dispatch reported.

An investigation into Davis was launched after an employee at Teays Valley West Middle School in Commercial Point reported an "odd relationship" between Davis and a student, WBNS reported, citing Pickaway County Sheriff Matthew Hafey. According to police, Davis was arrested after the investigation was conducted.

Under Section 2907.04 of the Ohio Revised Code, anyone over the age of 18 cannot engage in sexual acts with minors under 16. Section 2907.03, meanwhile, states that educators are legally prohibited from having sex with students no matter their age.

The Pickaway County Sheriff's Office was joined by members of the South Bloomfield Police Department and Ohio's Bureau of Criminal Investigation in servicing a search warrant at Davis' residence, which secured more evidence.

Davis is scheduled to appear in court Thursday, as per the Columbus Dispatch. According to Pickaway County Municipal Court, her bond is set at $250,000.

Davis will be required to wear a GPS monitor should she be released.

Teays Valley Local Schools said in a statement released Wednesday that Davis, who worked part-time, was no longer employed with the district.

"Since this is a pending personnel matter involving a district employee, our practice is not to publicly discuss the specific facts and circumstances. However, we can confirm that Ms. Davis has been notified that her services are no longer needed by the Board of Education," the statement read.

The board added, "We take these allegations very seriously and are committed to the safety and well-being of our students as our first priority."

A similar arrest was made in April when a former teacher from Tomball, Texas, admitted to having a sexual relationship with a former middle school student who was half her age.

According to an affidavit, Marka Bodine, 31, told authorities she had a sexual relationship with her now-16-year-old former student, adding she had also sent him several sexually explicit images and videos.

The former Tomball Independent School District teacher was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child after police received a complaint from the alleged victim.