Bentonville, ARKANSAS

Feb 20, 2008 -
Melissa G. Monroe, 32, a Bentonville High School math teacher, was arrested on suspicion of having a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old male student.

Monroe is being held in jail. She was arrested for sexual assault in the second degree, a class B felony; and knowingly furnishing alcohol to a minor, a class C misdemeanor.

Monroe was arrested under a sexual-assault statute that concerns a public school teacher - who teaches any grade from kindergarten to 12 th - engaging in sexual contact with another person who is a student enrolled in the public school and who is less than 21 years of age.

Full Name: Melissa Gayle Monroe

Two other Benton county teachers were sexually involved with their students.

In March 2001, Jennifer Williams, a teacher at Lincoln Junior High School in Bentonville, was arrested for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student. She later pleaded guilty to violation of a minor in the first degree. She was placed on probation for five years and was required to register as a sex offender.

Last month, Casey Helms, a former Gravette High School drama teacher, admitted having sexual contact with a 17-year-old female student. Helms, 32, pleaded guilty to sexual assault in the second degree. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. TT entry for Helms.

Feb 21 - Monroe will be arraigned March 31. The school principal learned about the sex from another teacher. Monroe had text-messaged the other teacher about the sexual encounter. Monroe told the teacher that the student promised her he would not tell anyone about the incident. Prosecutors have not filed formal charges against Monroe.

FIRED - March 12 - Monroe was fired. She has 30 days to appeal so the firing is just formal. Arraignment is scheduled for March 31.
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LEGAL NOTE: (from story) Arkansas law specifies that it is a crime for a publicschool teacher to engage in sexual contact with a student in the school district younger than 21.
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TT - Two other local teachers mentioned in the story: Casey Helm, arrested in January TT - entry and Jennifer Williams, arrested 2001, pleaded guilty, sentenced to probation and sex registration.

FIRING NOT CONTESTED March 25, 2008 - Given 30 days to do so, Monroe did not contest the firing. Prosecutors have not filed formal charges against Monroe. She is due to be arraigned March 31.

FIRING CONTESTED March 25 - Monroe DID request a hearing. The letter was received before the deadline. Monroe subsequently withdrew the request April 2. Her lawyer says she needs to concentrate on her defense.

FORMALLY CHARGED March 28 - Monroe was formally charged with second-degree sexual assault and four counts of knowingly furnishing or selling alcohol to a minor. She will be arraigned Monday.

Monroe sent a text message a fellow teacher at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 that read, "Help! I've made the worst decision of my life. And I don't know what to do." Monroe said that January night she was drinking and texting with a student, court documents say. She said the student wanted to come over but she told him no. Eventually, he came over and they had sex three times, according to a probable cause affidavit submitted by Detective Mark Jordan of the Bentonville Police Department.

Later that evening, Monroe texted, "You don't hate me do you?" and "At least he was legal. Haha."

The other teacher went to the school principal and police were called. Monroe initially denied allegations to police, but then admitted having sex with the student, the affidavit states. Police asked her if the boy forced himself on her, and she said no.

NOT GUILTY PLEA March 31 - Monroe pleaded not guilty. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for May 15.

CHALLENGE TO LAW May 16 - Monroe's attorney says he plans to challenge a state law that makes it a felony a public school teacher to have sexual contact with a student younger than 21. Conrad Odom says he plans to file the argument to the court by the end of June.

HEARING POSTPONED August 14 - A hearing to challenge the constitutionality of the law charging her with having sex with an 18-year-old student was scheduled for today, but was rescheduled for 1: 30 p.m. Sept. 10.