Teacher's affair with pupil 'textual not sexual'

A married teaching assistant fell "something like in love" with a teenage pupil but did not have sex with him, jurors were told yesterday.

Jenine Saville-King, 29, of Hook, Hampshire, became "dependent" on the boy and exchanged 200 pages of internet messages with him over a four-month period, St Albans Crown Court was told.

But her lawyer said the relationship was "textual" not sexual and the boy was "making things up" when he alleged they had sex.

Saville-King was teaching at a school in Watford, Herts, when she is alleged to have had an affair with the boy.

She denies sexual activity with a child and breach of trust.

The boy told jurors yesterday that he had sex with the teaching assistant "two to three times a week" - and the affair continued after she became pregnant by her husband Paul, 37.

Prosecutors say the affair lasted for more than a year between 2004 and 2005 when the boy, now 18, was aged 15 and 16.

Sarah Forshaw, for Saville-King, said the teaching assistant had an eating disorder and had left the school suffering from stress after being "bullied" by teenage girl pupils.

Miss Forshaw said Saville-King became "dependent" on daily communication from the boy.

She said police downloaded 200 pages of MSN messages between Saville-King and the boy between July 2005 and October 2005.

Records showed Saville-King had also texted the boy more than 120 times over a four-day period in May 2005.

But she said the couple had not had sex.

"Whatever else you were getting from this extraordinary relationship it was not sex," Miss Forshaw told the boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

"She was never naked in a hotel bed and you have never seen her naked."

She added: "Police were able to download 200 pages of closely typed MSN messages between July 2005 and October 2005.

"There is lots of 'I love you' and 'I love you too' between you and Mrs Saville-King.

"But not a word about any physical conduct at all. Not a word about her body."

Miss Forshaw said the couple had a "textual" relationship, adding: "Soul mates rather than sexual mates."

She went on: "She (Saville-King) certainly fell something like in love with you but she just didn't have sex with you."

The boy told the court he had been in love with Saville-King and they had had sex two to three times a week.

He said the couple had sex in July 2005 three days before Saville-King gave birth to her son. The boy said for some months afterwards he thought the child was his.

Teacher accused of having sex with teen

A charter school teacher has been accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old.

Judith Wallace, 37, was booked into a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of two counts of sexual conduct with a minor. She was released early Thursday.

Wallace is a teacher at D.W. Higgins Institute, a K-8 charter school in Tempe. She is also daughter of the school's owner, according to a statement from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

The statement also said that the victim, who is now 16, told deputies that he and Wallace had sex on separate occasions between February and April 2006. During that time, the teacher would take him to parties and social gatherings as a "couple," he said.

A witness corroborated the boy's account and said it was common to see the pair outside of school and at other staff members' homes.

Roseville teacher faces sex charges

The Silverado Middle School in Roseville community is still reeling over news that a popular teacher was arrested on sex charges.

Eighth-grade teacher Kelly Christine Spaich was placed on indefinite paid leave Monday following allegations she engaged in an illegal sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy, said Mark Geyer, Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District superintendent.

Spaich, a 28-year-old Roseville resident, was arrested about 9 p.m. Friday, said Lt. Dave Allison of the Roseville Police Department. The alleged victim is a former Silverado student whose identity is not being disclosed because he is a minor.

Geyer noted counseling staff was being made available for students who wanted to talk about the allegations.

"As in any case where it involves an emotional matter, we have put our staff on notice," he said. "If students need to talk about the issue we can certainly do that."

Spaich, who most recently taught language arts and social studies, is a six-year veteran of the district who also served as a boys' volleyball coach and student government advisor, Geyer said. She was also a recipient of the 2002-03 Association of California School Administrators "Teachers who Make a Difference Award."

Geyer would not say whether the district had received previous complaints relating to Spaich, but noted all job applicants go through a high level of scrutiny before employment.

Members of Spaich's family declined an interview request, and a request to speak with Spaich's attorney was not answered by press time.

Geyer said a letter notifying parents and guardians of the arrest was sent home with students Monday - the first day back after spring break.

Most, however, already heard the allegations from weekend reports.

"I was so shocked," said Silverado parent Tina Izaguirre. "I try to keep them as safe as possible. Obviously, you know this kind of thing happens, but you think, 'Not here. Not in Roseville.'"