Katherine Ruth Harper (Denton County Jail)
A pregnant seventh-grade English teacher and cheerleading coach in Texas is accused of having sex with a 15-year-old male student.
Katherine Harper, 27, was accused of having an improper relationship between an educator and student, which is a second-degree felony in Texas.
Harper, a teacher at Tidwell Middle School in Roanoke, Texas, allegedly sent nude photos of herself to the student with her cell phone, the Star-Telegram reported. She is sometimes known as Katherine Ruth Harper.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. It’s Not Clear Whether the Teenager Is the Father of Harper’s Child
According to People Magazine, “Harper is eight months pregnant, but it is unclear whether the 15-year-old is the child’s father.”
Fox 4 reported that the school district found out “through an anonymous tip via the district website that said the boy and Harper were having sex and also claimed she was also pregnant…although the arrest warrant never explicitly states if the 15-year-old is the baby’s father.”
Harper is 27-years-old, and the boy is now in high school in Texas.
2. Harper & the Teen Allegedly Had a Summer Long Relationship
People Magazine reports that the teacher “was arrested and charged with improper relationship between an educator and student, a second degree felony, for allegedly having a summer-long sexual relationship last year with a student she met at Tidwell Middle School.”
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, an affidavit accused Harper of having sex with the student “last summer at her Fort Worth home and at his home in Trophy Club.”
3. The Encounters Allegedly Included Flirty Texts & Alcohol
She was a seventh-grade English teacher at Tidwell Middle School t.co/pqPoL94yQB
The sexual encounters between the teacher and the teen included alcohol and flirtatious texts, according to The Sun.
“Harper and the boy hooked up after sending flirty texts to each other, say police. The blonde reportedly went to the teen’s home where they drank booze before stripping,” the Sun reported, adding that it’s alleged Harper and the teen communicated 76 times with each other using cell phones.
The New York Daily News reported that Harper is accused of sending nude photos to the boy.
The boy saved the photos on his phone, according to The Star Telegram. The newspaper reported that, according to the affidavit, “the teen said he and Harper began drinking alcohol and both took off their clothes. At that time, the teen performed a sex act on Harper.”
4. Harper Was Also a Tennis Coach & Taught the Teenager in English Class
According to the Sun, Harper, in addition to being a cheerleader, is a tennis coach who taught the teenage boy English.
Harper was a “7th grade English teacher and coach at the Tidwell Middle School,” reported Fox 4.
The Star Telegram reported that an earlier tip was investigated and closed because officials didn’t have the name of the student or teacher.
5. The Teenager Started Crying When the Principal Confronted Him
After receiving a tip, authorities started to look into the pair. The principal confronted the teenager, and he started crying and admitted to multiple sexual encounters, according to The New York Daily News.
A warrant alleged that the boy said, “One thing led to another and she told me to ‘put it in’ and I did,” the Daily News alleged.
In January 2016, the middle school wrote on Facebook, “Join me in congratulating this month’s NISD Profile of an Educator…Katherine Harper.” The video has since been removed.