An Arkansas teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy who attended school in her district has been fired, an official with Dardanelle Public Schools confirmed on Tuesday.
Chrystal Estelle Vega, 40, formerly an educator in the Dardanelle School District, faces a felony first-degree sexual assault charge, according to online court records.
Charging documents filed in Pope County Circuit Court show that a 16-year-old told the Russellville Police Department on Sept. 11 that he and Vega had sexual intercourse and that she performed a sexual act on him at a city park on Sept. 6.
The teen texted Vega while with police, and she texted back “about never getting to see her kids again,” according to the documents. Surveillance video showed the teacher’s black Camaro at the park during the time the 16-year-old reported, authorities said.
Police spoke with Vega, who said she had a texting relationship with the student that had “crossed the line” and that she had met him at the park, documents show. She denied having sexual contact with the teen.
The 40-year-old was taken to the Pope County jail, where she was later released, records show. Vega’s contract with the district was terminated on Oct. 17, according to Dardanelle Superintendent John Thompson.
Vega was an eighth-grade business and vocational teacher, though she previously taught eighth-grade English, Thompson said.