A FORMER elementary school teacher has been charged with having a “prolonged” relationship with a 14-year-old boy.
Nicole Ballew Callaham, 33, has been accused of grooming the teenager for over two years.
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The South Carolina native faces three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Callaham gave herself up to cops on Thursday, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office said.
It came after a thorough investigation into the ex-teacher which started back in May.
Detectives found the alleged misconduct began in 2021 and continued for at least two years afterwards.
Within that time frame, Callaham is believed to have signed the student out of school, transported him to practices and even served as a supervisor for after-school activities, the sheriff’s office said.
Cops described these patterns as “grooming behavior”.
The boy involved was in his early teens when the alleged relationship started.
He came forward to police shortly after his 18th birthday after he spent years “processing the experience and trauma”, authorities said.
They added: “These repeated interactions led to a prolonged pattern of abuse, which was corroborated by search warrants and ongoing cooperation with the victim’s family.”
The Greenville City Police Department has brought similar charges against Callaham which are separate from those in Anderson County.
This is due to the boy attending school in Greenville during the alleged inappropriate conduct.
The charges include eight counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and four counts of unlawful conduct towards a child.
Court filings claim Callaham allegedly provided the teen with marijuana, nicotine and alcohol during the two years.
Callaham resigned from her job at Homeland Park Elementary School before the charges were officially filed.
She is also currently pregnant and has one child at home.
She appeared in bond court this week where a detective read a letter written by the teen’s mother.
The angered mom said: “Looking back, it sickens me knowing Nicki manipulated our son and our family.
“She saw our son’s innocence and that he was very easily manipulated.”
Callaham’s defense attorney said his client has cooperated with law enforcement and they “look forward to a day in court”.
The judge set her bond at $40,000 and ordered her not to have contact with Strickland’s family.
It follows a teacher who is accused of raping her 15-year-old student 50 times moaning that she is being targeted because of her good looks.
Christina Formella, 30, claimed she is the victim of misogynistic “sexist scrutiny” and complained about being depicted as a “predator”.
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