A Kilbourne High School teacher and coach has been suspended with pay while authorities investigate her relationship with an eighth grade student.
Brittany Johnson, eighth grade English language arts teacher and girl’s basketball coach, has allegedly been sending her 14 year old male student messages on MySpace since October of 2008 asking for sex.
The Fifth District Attorney, William Coenen Jr., said Monday he received a report sent in by the West Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office on Friday, Jan. 9 and has not looked over it yet.
He said after he examines the report, decisions will be made about Johnson.
West Carroll Parish Superintendent Kent Davis said, “Mrs. Johnson was suspended with pay Friday until the results of the investigation, and then we will continue with other steps. It’s in the D.A.’s hands now.”
Before the schools let out for Christmas break, Davis, Johnson and Kilbourne High School principal Shelton Kavalier had a meeting about an investigation into these messages.
The results of the investigation were sent to West Carroll Sheriff Jerry Philley, who reviewed them and did a second investigation. He then sent his information to Coenen.
Coenen does not know how long his investigation will take.
If Johnson is found guilty of communicating in an inappropriate fashion with her student Davis and the West Carroll Parish School Board “will take necessary steps.”
If convicted of sending illicit messages to the student, Johnson may be charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile.
This charge contains the “transmission of an electronic textual communication or an electronic visual communication depicting lewd or lascivious conduct, text, or images to any person reasonably believed to be under the age of 17 and reasonably believed to be at least two years younger than the offender.”
The electronic communications can include internet chat rooms, electronic mail or on-line messaging services.
This charge carries a fine of not more than $5,000, or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than seven years, or both.
