Married teacher, 39, arrested on rape and sodomy charges for 'year-long sexual affair with student under 16-years-old'



A 39-year-old teacher has been arrested on rape and sodomy charges involving a student under the age of 16, it emerged today.



Sixth-grade teacher Jennifer Collins McNeill, from Alabama, is alleged to have had a sexual affair with a boy aged between 12 and 16 from April 2012 to June 2013.



McNeill worked at Thorsby High School where she primarily taught six graders. She was also a sponsor for the cheerleader team .



Accused: Jennifer Collins McNeill is alleged to have had a sexual affair with a boy aged between 12 and 16 from April 2012 to June 2013

Scene: McNeill worked at Thorsby High School where she primarily taught six graders and was also a sponsor for the cheerleading team

She was arrested on the day students returned to school from the summer break, AL.com reported.



Sheriff Kevin Davis says his office began investigating allegations that McNeill was having sex with a student after they got a call from the Department of Human Resources.



'A very good investigation has been done. In my opinion, some very strong evidence has been collected throughout that investigation,' Sheriff Davis said



The married teacher's arrest stunned school chiefs.



'That we're all shocked and disappointment doesn't describe it,' said Chilton County Schools Superintendent Dave Hayden.



He said she was placed on administrative leave, but it has yet to be determined if she will continue to receive her full pay .

Warrants filed in court show that McNeill is charged with having had sexual intercourse with a juvenile male less than 16 years of age, but older than 12, between April 10, 2012 and June 28 of this year.



The juvenile does not go to school at Thorsby, but is a student in the county.



Sheriff Davis told WTOX parents had to be able to trust teachers.



He said: 'I dropped off my 12-year-old this morning for the first day of school like other parents across this county and the state for that matter.



'I take a certain amount of responsibility for those kids through school resource officers and us trying to keep them protected through that side, but we also entrust, as parents, a lot of trust to teachers and principals and administrators of the school system.'



McNeill was charged with six counts of second degree rape and two counts of second degree sodomy.

