Schmitz Residents of the Leroy community were shocked this past weekend when a local teacher was arrested and charged for allegedly having sexual relations with one of her 14-yearold male students.

Leroy High School (LHS) teacher Charlene Schmitz, 54, was arrested by Washington County deputies Friday, June 22, at her Carson Road residence in Leroy and charged with second degree rape and second degree sodomy.

According to Washington County Sheriff Richard Stringer, his department had been alerted to the alleged affair by a parent of the juvenile who discovered sexually explicit emails, allegedly sent by the teacher, on the child's computer. "We talked with the young admitted to the relationship with Schmitz," he said.

Stringer said the ninth grader was a student of Schmitz's. The teacher reportedly has two children at home, one close to the age of the young man.

Monday, Stringer said Schmitz's husband had indicated he did not believe the allegations against his wife. "But, he hasn't seen all the evidence yet," he added.

Both the student and teacher's computers and cell phones were confiscated by deputies and will undergo forensic analysis.

Washington County Sheriff Richard Stringer is interviewed by Adam Walser of WALA, Channel 10. (SA photo by Ellen Williams) "The thing that shocks me the most about this is the vast age difference between the teacher and the student," said Stringer. "There's a 40-year age difference there, which is the largest I've ever heard of."

Schmitz was released Monday on $40,000 bond. Television reporters went to her residence, Monday, in an attempt to obtain a comment from her, but no one came to the door.

Deputy Donnie Sullivan is the investigating officer in the case. Schmitz's arraignment will be July 23.

These two computers were confiscated from Schmitz and the 14-year-old juvenile she allegedly had sexual relations with. (SA photo by Ellen Williams) The Channel 10 News crew made an unsuccessful attempt to contact Schmitz at her residence on Carson Road in Leroy. (SA photo by Ellen Williams)