Teacher charged with having sex with 11-year-old student

LAURENS, S.C. Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — An elementary school teacher was arrested Friday on charges she had sex with one of her 11-year-old students, authorities said.

Wendie A. Schweikert, 36, was booked on two counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor after a parent of the boy accused the teacher of having sex with the pupil at the school at least twice, police Chief Robin Morse said.

Authorities said Schweikert remained jailed Friday and a bond hearing was set for Saturday. Messages left at Schweikert’s home and for the prosecutor were not returned Friday. It was not immediately clear if she had been assigned a lawyer.

Police said Schweikert, who resigned her job at E.B. Morse Elementary School on Friday, had been an employee of the Laurens School District 55 for nine years and had no criminal history and no prior complaints against her.

“This is an unfortunate situation that is being taken seriously,” district Superintendent Edgar Taylor said in a news release. “The administration of the district stands firm in its belief that student safety is of the utmost importance. This type of behavior is not acceptable and will not be tolerated in the district.”