A kindergarten teacher at a Christian school has confessed to having a sexual relationship with a female student, which took place on school premises, during class trips, and even at sleepovers at the student’s home.
Torrie Lemon, 24, entered a guilty plea in Indiana on Thursday to one count of child seduction, classified as a Level 5 felony. She received a sentence of 40 days in jail followed by nearly four years of probation.
Lemon, who has since been dismissed from her position at Colonial Christian School, had already spent a month in jail while awaiting trial. She faces additional sentencing on Friday for two other child seduction charges related to the same case in a neighboring county near Indianapolis.
The inappropriate relationship came to light during a school trip to South Carolina in April. Another student discovered messages on the 17-year-old’s phone from Lemon discussing intimate details, according to court documents.
Lemon texted the student expressing deep affection, writing, “I love you more than I can describe. I love my girl,” and thanked her for an “amazing night and morning.”
The teacher was sent back home from the trip and admitted to authorities, “I was having an inappropriate relationship with a student from our school.”
The student revealed to officers that their friendship with Lemon evolved after they began discussing their attraction to women.
The student stated that she and Lemon intended to keep their relationship as just friends because it conflicted with their Christian beliefs, according to court documents.
They acknowledged having sex at Lemon’s apartment, which is situated on school grounds.
Lemon was also permitted to stay overnight at the student’s home, where they shared a pull-out couch in the basement. The student began inquiring with her parents about the age of consent, which is 16 in Indiana.
The student’s father admitted he was aware of his daughter’s physical affection towards the teacher, including kissing and cuddling, but chose not to report it to avoid Lemon losing her job, as per the court documents.
Lemon revealed to investigators that the student’s mother suspected there was more to their relationship than just friendship.
