A Chilton County High School math teacher was arrested Wednesday on a dozen sex-related charges involving three different students.

Ashley Nicole "Nikki" Maddox, 31, is charged with two Class C felonies and 10 Class A misdemeanors, said Chilton County Chief Deputy District Attorney CJ Robinson.

The investigation initially began as an administrative matter at Chilton County High School but was quickly turned to a school resource officers once criminal acts were alleged, Robinson said. The Clanton Police Department launched an investigation during which other students came forward and "disclosed Nikki Maddox had subjected them to inappropriate and illegal sexual contact,'' Robinson said.

In all, Maddox is charged with crimes involving three students. The alleged offenses happened over the past few months, Robinson said.

Maddox, who is married and the mother of a son, graduated from the University of Montevallo, according to her bio on the Chilton County High School website. She has previously worked as a special education teacher in both Chilton and Shelby counties, and was currently teaching Algebra I and Algebraic Essentials.

She is charged with two counts of a school employee having sexual contact with a student under 19, two counts of a school employee soliciting a sex act with a student under 19, four counts of a school employee distributing obscene material to a student and four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Details of the alleged crimes have not been made public.

Maddox was booked into the Chilton County Jail at 8:51 a.m. Wednesday and release at 10:04 a.m. after posting $17,500 bond. A court date has not yet been set.

Robinson praised the work of the Clanton Police Department and the cooperation from the Chilton County Board of Education. "These are serious offenses and while we pray things like this don't happen, unfortunately sometimes they do,'' he said. "When the public trust is betrayed, we want to act as swiftly but as thoroughly as possible."

"The investigators on this case have worked tirelessly to uncover the truth. I hope we have found all there is to find,'' Robinson said. "If there are more victims out there, please know that you are not alone and coming forward is the right thing to do. "

"We have so many honorable people in Chilton County who have devoted their lives to being the best teachers they can be,'' he said. "Bringing those who use their position to victimize students to justice is the first step in rebuilding the trust of the public."