Former Cleveland Co. teacher charged with sex crimes against student

CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — Investigators said a former teacher in Cleveland County turned herself in after being accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old female student.

Officials said Emma Costner, 25, was a teacher at Crest High School but resigned one day after deputies began looking into the allegations.

Costner is charged with two counts of committing a sex act with a student.

Deputies moved very quickly on the case, making the arrest a week after learning of the accusations.

The school district told Channel 9 that when leaders became suspicious they immediately alerted authorities.

"It's everywhere, everywhere. Different schools, different teachers, messing with these younger kids and stuff,” one mother, Lisa Lamure, said.

Deputies said they don’t believe any of the alleged incidents happened on school grounds.

The school district said Costner had only been a teacher there for a little over a year.

Investigators said the case is an important reminder for teachers to avoid inappropriate contact with any student.

"We send our kids to school to get an education, to learn how to be adults in the world and we don't expect teachers to prey on those children,” Cpt. Jon Wright with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office said.

Officials said the teenager’s parents found information about Costner's contact with their daughter and called deputies.

Costner was given a $10,000 bond and could appear in court on Thursday.

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