Bentonville teacher accused of having sex with student

KFSM News 5 ^ | 2/18/08 | Mary Marsh

[day10]

BENTONVILLE - A Bentonville High School math teacher is behind bars after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a student.

Bentonville police arrested 32-year-old Melissa Monroe of Bella Vista Tuesday, after an investigation led them to believe Monroe had recently been involved in a sexual relationship with one of her male students.

Bentonville Police Chief James Allen explains, "She had texted another teacher, you know, the thing about, 'I can't believe the mistake I've made,' and 'you won't believe what I've done.'"

Based on text messages Monroe sent to a fellow teacher, Bentonville police say Monroe may have planned the incident. They say she did provide the minor with alcohol during the encounter, which occurred at Monroe's Bella Vista home.

Chief Allen says, "This happened to be on a date back in late January, which, uh, happened to be the boy's 18th birthday."

Bentonville High School Principal Steve Jacoby says he and the faculty were stunned by the news of the teacher-student relationship. "They were shocked. They were disappointed. There were tears, because she was a well-respected faculty member here on campus."

Jacoby says he's never had anything like this happen before. "This is my 38th year, and this is the first incident of this magnitude that I've been involved in."

Allen says situations like this make it hard for other teachers, trying to do their job. "They're playing with, not only their career, but their life, marriages. All that goes out the window when criminal behavior like this takes place. This is just a black eye on all those good teachers who are out there doing their job."

Monroe is facing charges of a Class B Felony for sexual assault, as well as knowingly giving alcohol to a minor, a Class C Misdemeanor. If convicted, she will face from 5 to 20 years in prison.

[wbill]

I would submit that the kid knew exactly what he was doing.

Teacher should be fired. No questions asked. However, other than supplying liquor to a minor...this is a civil matter, not a criminal matter.

[Emperor Palpatine]

And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson,
Jesus loves you more than you will know.
God bless you, please Mrs. Robinson.
Heaven holds a place for those who pray,
Hey, hey, hey


We'd like to know a little bit about your for our files
We'd like to help you learn to help yourself.
Look around you all you see are sympathetic eyes,
Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home.


And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson,
Jesus loves you more than you will know.
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson.
Heaven holds a place for those who pray,
Hey, hey, hey


Hide in the hiding place where no one ever goes.
Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes.
It's a little secret just the Robinsons' affair.
Most of all you've got to hide it from the kids.


Koo-koo-ka-choo, Mrs. Robinson,
Jesus loves you more than you will know.
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson.
Heaven holds a place for those who pray,
Hey, hey, hey


Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon.
Going to the candidate's debate.
Laugh about it, shout about it
When you've got to choose
Every way you look at this you lose.


Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio,
Our nation turns it's lonely eyes to you.
What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson.
Joltin' Joe has left and gone away,
Hey hey hey.
-Paul Simon/Arthur Garfunkel

[day10]

It does seem that people just can’t control themselves. Or maybe it has been happening all along and now is more evident with 24/7 news, internet, etc.

[bizeemommie]

Oh, I understand teenage boys. As much as I need to, anyway. I have one living in my house. I am just saying that an adult teacher needs to learn a little control. If they are looking for a love partner at work, maybe they should get another job.

[Scotswife]

“It does seem that people just can’t control themselves. Or maybe it has been happening all along and now is more evident with 24/7 news, internet, etc.”

We’ve dumped real religion and created a god out of hedonism and sex.
There seems to be a large group of people flailing about with no grounding in solid values and social limits.

[Married with Children]

He became a man at 18.

[Married with Children]

After reading stories like this...I wish I could go back to high school!

[day10]

You’re correct.

[Moleman]

Not guilty. How about those DSL?

[yourethebook]

Arkansas Code 5-14-103. Sexual Assault Second Degree:

(A) A person commits sexual assault in the second degree if the person:

...

(5) Is a teacher in a public school in grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12) and engages in sexual contact with another person who is a student enrolled in the school and who is less than twenty-one (21) years of age;

[Constitution Day]

It’s an idiotic law. Next!

[JackDanielsOldNo7]

Maybe, 10 whacks with a wet noodle...

That's what got her in trouble in the first place (grins)

18 year old guys do not have wet noodles. More like blue steel a cat couldn't scratch it.

[TruthWillWin]

Math test scores up at Bentonville High thanks to innovative new program.

[JackDanielsOldNo7]

Not guilty. How about those DSL?

Most on here might not know what ya mean. You might want to expand.

Nice aren't they!

[Moleman]

he he, cant expand too much on this forum. Anyhow very nice lips that have probably performed many a lewinsky.

[B-Chan]

I hate to say it, but she actually looks better in the mugshot. I’m not a big fan of the glitzy look.

“In the future, all female personnel are to wear their hair loosely about their shoulders. And use restraint in wearing makeup; women... women should not look ‘made-up’.” — Lt. Kevin Reilly, USS ENTERPRISE (NCC-1701)

[day10]

DSL?

[untrained skeptic]

Arrest her for giving alcohol to someone under 21 years of age. Arrest him for drinking it.

He wasn't a minor at the time. The only reason I could see for charging her with sexual assault is if she used her position of authority to force him to have sex with her, and they would need to have some real evidence to back that up.

She should of course be fired from her job.

[Night Hides Not]

He became a man at 18.

My oldest son has told me the same thing (he'll be 19 in two months).

He still hasn't learned that he can't maintain his desired lifestyle working 15 hours a week at Frye's Electronics.

My wife has finally come around to my way of thinking: he knows the only way I'm paying for his college tuition next year is if he's attending New Mexico Military Institute.

[Waverunner]

She should have used the “ Sorry I thought he was an intern defense”