Teacher’s aide arrested, accused of having sex with eighth grader multiple times

AVONDALE, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) — A teacher’s aide in Arizona is facing felony charges after police say she had sex with an eighth-grade student multiple times.

According to court documents, an investigation into Jessenia Rodriguez, 22, started when a Sun Valley Academy student’s stepmother heard a rumor and other parents encouraged her to look through the boy’s phone.

When she did, investigators say she found evidence of a sexual relationship.

Police said the 15-year-old student told them during an interview that the relationship started when the two flirted during recess and he got her number.

Officers said the teen told them that the pair had sexual relations at least three times, with the first time being last month.

Rodriguez reportedly told the student not to tell anyone, and she could get in a lot of trouble if anyone found out.

Police said they found dozens of images and messages on the boy’s phone between the two that included text conversations where Rodriguez sent photos of pregnancy tests and discussed getting an abortion.

Detectives said they also found Snapchat messages where Rodriguez told the student she was “craving” him and described a sexual dream.

On Thursday, police searched Rodriguez’s home, where she was arrested.

During the police interview, officers said the 22-year-old admitted to the three sexual encounters, but said they did not have sex the third time.

Police said Rodriguez admitted to knowing the boy’s age while acknowledging the actions were wrong.

Rodriguez was booked into jail on four counts of sexual conduct with a minor and luring a minor for sexual exploitation. Her bond was set at $100,000.