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Teacher Allegedly Caught Having Sex With Teen In Van

A 32-year-old teacher at Jackson Middle School was behind bars, Tuesday, accused of having sex with a middle school student. She was caught with the student in a van in a church parking lot.


SLIDESHOW: Teacher's MySpace Photos, Mug Shot
READ: Titusville Police Arrest Affidavit

Janet Hughes, the business teacher at Jackson Middle School was placed on paid administrative leave while the case is under investigation. Hughes could be released Tuesday evening. Tuesday afternoon, a judge lowered her bond despite concerns from prosecutors that the teacher might try to contact the student she's accused of having sex with.

It wasn't easy to wipe away tears with handcuffs on, Hughes learned in court, Tuesday. The Jackson Middle School teacher tried to hide her face as the judge reviewed her arrest for having sex with a student.

The 32-year-old wife and mother was arrested after two undercover detectives found her in a van in a church parking lot with the 16-year-old male student. The detectives just happened to find them.

"These detectives met in a parking lot to go over a case and they see the van. They walk over there and that's when they discover the sex was about to happen between these two," explained Todd Hutchinson, Titusville Police Department.

The two were found lying on a blanket in the back of the van, in a position detectives said was clear they were about to engage in a sexual activity. When Hughes was taken back to the police station, detectives said she admitted to having sex with the same student in the past.

Hughes has only worked at Jackson Middle School for less than a year, teaching business electives. Before there, she worked at Palm Bay High School.

"Today, the extensive investigation begins in determining how long this relationship has been going on," Hutchinson said.

Investigators said they are particularly interested in finding other young male students she might have come in contact with and talking to students she took on field trips, like one earlier this year to Busch Gardens in Tampa.

"We want to make sure there aren't any other victims out there," Hutchinson said.

The school district said Hughes has no disciplinary issues in her personnel file. Authorities were not permitted to explain why the 16-year-old was still in middle school.
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