A former substitute teacher who fled police and crashed after having sex with a boy in a car has been sentenced. Erin Ward, 45, from Omaha, was caught having sex with a 17-year-old student in the back seat of her vehicle last April by Douglas County deputies.
Police said they found the couple naked in the Honda Sedan after they received reports of a suspicious-looking car on a dead-end road. The teen apparently got frightened upon seeing the deputy, hurried to the driver's seat, and made an attempt to flee the scene. Ward was also found naked in the backseat of the car and was putting her clothes back on.
Naked and Caught
He then fled on foot and was found by police over an hour later, dressed in boxers, socks, and a T-shirt. Ward, who stayed at the scene, allegedly confessed to having sex with the teen boy, as per police statements.
Police also found an Omaha Public School employee ID inside the vehicle, and Ward verified that she was a substitute teacher at Burke High School in Omaha.
She also told the police that the 17-year-old was a student from the same school. "The Honda Pilot was determined to be owned by Ward and her spouse," police said.
After the teen was located, he was brought to "a safe place to receive care and be interviewed." It is unclear how long Ward worked at the school. Burke High School is yet to make an official comment on the incident.
In November, Ward shared a photo on her X account depicting keys, a folder, and a Burke High School lanyard.
"Every school in the metro could learn something from @OPS_Burke," she said.
"Absolutely the best school as a guest school teacher. Favorite building to teach at...love when I get to be a bulldog."
Punished at Last
Ward pleaded no contest to felony child abuse and was convicted in November. On Wednesday, she was sentenced to three years of probation without serving jail time. This comes after the recent arrest of a former Florida Teacher of the Year on January 24.
She is accused of hosting a chaotic house party where approximately 100 teenagers were allegedly drinking alcohol.
Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, the principal of Roosevelt Elementary School, along with fellow teacher Karly Anderson, were both charged after the disruptive party that took place on January 19, as reported by the New York Post.
Allegedly, some of the party attendees were drinking from coolers inside the house, and one teenager was hospitalized due to excessive alcohol consumption. Hill-Brodigan, 47, reportedly turned off all the exterior lights and went inside her home when emergency responders arrived to assist the affected teen.
Both Hill-Brodigan and Anderson face charges of child neglect and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to Florida Today. Additionally, Hill-Brodigan was charged with violating open house party alcohol laws.
