School Employee Arrested Over Allegations of Sexual Abuse

A married staff member from a high school in Indiana has been taken into custody following accusations of sexually abusing a student, according to police reports. The allegations surfaced when her husband discovered her with a second student.

The Union City police, situated in western Ohio near the Indiana border, confirmed the arrest of Alicia Hughes, a 31-year-old employee of the Randolph Eastern School Corporation. This statement followed an investigation into claims of her inappropriate conduct with minors.

Details emerged that Hughes was caught in a compromising situation with an 18-year-old student on February 14. Her husband reportedly confronted her, leading to an altercation in which he was allegedly assaulted. This incident is still under investigation by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department.

Although the husband’s name has not been released, police indicated they found evidence of a sexual relationship between Hughes and another student, who was 17 at the time. Reports state that Hughes and this student engaged in sexual intercourse on several occasions—at least five times.

Consequently, Hughes has been charged with five counts of child enticement related to her interactions with an underage student. She is currently held at the Randolph County Jail, with a cash-only bond set at $25,000.

According to Indiana law, child enticement involves utilizing a professional relationship to engage in sexual activities with a minor. This includes school employees, like Hughes.

The Randolph Eastern School Corporation’s Superintendent, Neal Adams, stated that Hughes has been relieved of all responsibilities involving students while the legal proceedings unfold. Interestingly, Hughes’ name isn’t listed on the current employee roster, but past records do show an attendance secretary with that name.

Adams refrained from commenting on whether Hughes had been officially terminated from her position. He expressed concern over the situation, acknowledging its impact on families, staff, and the broader community.

Tom Blessing, an attorney focused on sexual abuse cases, pointed out that while allegations often involve teachers and coaches, any school employee could exploit their authority over children. He emphasized the importance of examining the school’s policies and questioning how potential warning signs may have been overlooked.

The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office has not responded to requests for further comments at this time. Union City police also stated there are no updates on the case.

Anyone with more information about this incident is encouraged to reach out to the Union City Police Department.