Beth Scearce, Tennessee Christian School Teacher, Accused Of Sex With Minors

A third-grade teacher at a West Tennessee Christian school faces statutory rape charges for allegedly having sex with two boys under the age of 18.

Beth Scearce, 37, was arrested at Christ Classical Academy in Dyersburg, Tenn. on Oct. 15 after a victim told police that he had sex with her three times in the fall of 2012.

Scearce faces three counts of aggravated statutory rape, according to the State Gazette.

According to a statement from the school, where Scearce has taught for two years, the the teacher has been put on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

At the moment it appears that the neither of the victims were connected to the school, which caters to pre-kindergarten to 8th grade students.

“Initially, it should be noted that there is no indication that any students or other employees of Christ Classical Academy were either in any way involved or even aware of the underlying conduct leading to the criminal charges,” Christ Classical Academy Principal Janice Young wrote in a statement.

According to WMCTV, the charges are out of Lauderdale County, where Scearce lives.

The State Gazette reports:

Tennessee law defines aggravated statutory rape as the unlawful sexual penetration of a victim by the defendant, or of the defendant by the victim when the victim is at least 13 but less than 18 years of age and the defendant is at least 10 years older than the victim.

Update: Scearce’s record was expunged in 2016.