A high school teacher in Texas has been arrested after evidence appeared to show her sending nude photos of herself to underage students.
Holly Adams is charged with one count of tampering with evidence and two counts of purchasing or furnishing alcohol to a minor. The case came to light after one of the students involved told another member of staff that Adams was behaving inappropriately.
Allegations and investigation
A court heard how the student told school officials that the victim video called him over the summer from a bedroom in Adams’ house. He allegedly saw the bed was covered in nude photos of her, plus others of the pair cuddling.
It was heard how Adams reportedly invited students to her home to perform chores, and she allegedly admitted to speaking with three members of the school baseball team on Snapchat, local media reported.
Arrest and legal proceedings
Adams has been dismissed from her teaching role in Texas. A full trial is now expected to take place in the coming weeks, but the teacher has been suspended from Angleton High School near Houston, Texas, while police continue the investigation.
Officers confirmed she was arrested and taken to the Brazoria County Detention Center and released on a $26,000 bond the same day.
Expert commentary on impact
Psychologists have since said the damage to the students could run very deep. Gail Saltz, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, said that many female teachers who sexually abuse male students sometimes convince themselves that the relationship is legitimate.
She said: “They’re more likely to be psychologically both grooming their victim, but also what’s called self grooming. They are convincing themselves that what they are doing is having an intimate, romantic relationship that is benefiting the victim as well.”
Saltz noted that the damage done to the male students is just as damaging as female victims. “It is easily as damaging in terms of, you’ve been abused by an adult. And that adult took advantage of your trust,” she said. “That violated boundaries that you weren’t ready for.”
