Teacher Paid Student for Sex

Melissa Ann Andreini, 28, a special education teacher who taught at the Helper Junior High School in Helper, Utah resigned her position on August 3, 2009 after being charged with three counts of third-degree felony unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

She is accused of having sexual relations with a 15-year-old male student, a ninth grader, who attends the same school but was not in her any of her classes. Not only is Andreini accused of having sex with the teen but also of paying him, on at least three different occasions, $500 after having sex. Court documents did not specify whether the money was payment for having sex or payment to ensure the teen's silence.

The mother of the 15-year-old boy heard about the relationship with the teacher and went to her house to confront her about it on July 3rd. According to court documents, Andreini admitted to the mother that she did indeed have sex, multiple times, with her son and paid him a total of about $1,500. The mother reported the incident to the police and Andreini was arrested and charged with three counts of third-degree felony unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

Andreini was booked into the Carbon County jail and released after posting $10,000 bail. Her first court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 28th before Judge Douglas Thomas Price. If convicted, Andreini faces up to five years in prison on each count.

Robert Cox, special programs director for the Carbon County School District said that Andreini was hired as a special education teacher in the fall of 2006. She submitted a letter of resignation to the district on Aug. 3.

"We take very seriously the safety of our students," Cox said. "We want our students to feel safe and feel comfortable in school. We regret that this would happen in our district or in any other district."

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