Bethany Newsome, an English teacher and volleyball coach at an Illinois school, has been arrested for her sexual involvement with several students. The Peoria Journal Star is reporting today that 29-year-old Bethany Newsome, AKA Bethany Worby, a well-respected teacher at Peoria High School, was charged with three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
According to law enforcement officials, Bethany Newsome-Worby sexually abused at least two victims: one aged 17 and the other aged 13. Details regarding the case are scarce, but the school became aware of the accusations against Bethany Newsome and an investigation ensued. Children’s Services was also brought in on the child molestation investigation, according to the State Journal-Register .
Those in the local area who know the now-disgraced teacher say that she had a history of not being appropriate when it came to students. Bethany Newsome constantly tried to be friends with the students — often letting the teens drive her personal vehicle and run errands for her, such as picking up her 6-year-old child. Many of the students would describe her as upbeat and cool. Bethany Newsome was not only cool, but she was very encouraging to most of her students and pushed them to be the best that they could be.
One also wonders how these predators can take advantage of children when they are often parents themselves. The arrests of teachers across the nation for inappropriate sexual relationships with students is reaching an all-time high, and it forces parents to have daily and weekly conversations with their children about child molestation so that they are able to recognize a predator.
Many say they don’t understand why such a good teacher would take a chance on ruining her career after so many years of college. The teacher’s career is not the only thing that suffers. The student who has been abused will also have emotional repercussions from the experience — especially if the students are under the age of 15 years of age. Here is what the locals are saying.
“Wow!! Doesn’t surprise me… Not that I know her personally but this is happening so often… Its a shame. All she has to do is ‘look sorry’ and she’ll get off.”
“Sick and disgusting.”
“My gosh… what a sick woman.”
“She looks like she’s plotting her next sexcapade. She was on the verge of licking her lips when the photo was snapped.”
“We take these accusations seriously and act promptly when a complaint or concern is shared with us,” District 150 Superintendent Grenita Lathan said in the prepared statement. “We will continue to fully cooperate with Peoria police and provide whatever support is necessary through the entire investigation.”
As of now, authorities are still trying to work out all of the details regarding where and how many times the sexual abuse took place. They are also encouraging other victims to come forward. Anyone with information should contact the local authorities.
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