WWL-TV, New Orleans

DESTREHAN, La. — Two Destrehan High School teachers accused of having group sex with a male student have posted $7,000 cash bonds and been released from custody.

Kenner Police Department Sgt. Brian McGregor says 34-year-old Shelley Dufresne and 24-year-old Rachel Respess left the Jefferson Parish jail early Thursday.

They are accused of having sex with a 16-year-old boy at Respess' Kenner apartment.

Previously, on Tuesday, Dufresne was charged with carnal knowledge of a juvenile in connection with an alleged encounter in Montz, La., where Dufresne lives. She was released from Nelson Coleman St. Charles Parish Correctional Center on $200,000 bond Tuesday night.

Kenner police said Tuesday they were investigating allegations that inappropriate sexual contact with the same student occurred at a second teacher's home in Kenner.

Respess turned herself in to Kenner Police Wednesday morning. The 24-year-old was arrested and charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, indecent behavior and contributing to delinquency of a minor.

At a press conference Wednesday, Kenner Police Chief Michael Glaser told reporters that he believed the community should be outraged by the actions of the two teachers.

"No matter what the sex of the victim is, everyone should be outraged," Glaser said. "You have an educator whose responsibility is the safety and education of children, and when it goes outside those lines I do believe the community should be outraged."

The incident is alleged to have happened Sept. 12, after a football game in which the Destrehan Wildcats beat the Helen Cox Cougars 48-7.

Destrehan High, in the St. Charles Parish Public School District, is located about 25 miles east of New Orleans on the east bank of the Mississippi River and enrolls grades 9 through 12.

The accusations came to light Sept. 26, after a male student bragged to classmates that he was having a sexual relationship with a teacher, according to the school district, which in turn contacted authorities.

On Dufresne's page on the St. Charles Parish Public School's website she writes that she been teaching at Destrehan High, her alma mater, for 10 years and is married with three children.

A message from Dufresne on her page reads: "I take my job and my students' education seriously and try my best to help all of my students be successful; however, this requires work and effort on the part of each of my students. I hope that all of my students have a great experience in my classroom and leave with the tools they need to be successful throughout the rest of their high school careers and in life."

As a condition of her release in St. Charles Parish, Dufresne is only allowed to leave her home for continued intensive mental health treatment, doctor's appointments and church. She must provide proof of her mental health treatment or go back to jail.

Contributing: Monica Hernandez, WWL-TV, and The Associated Press



