Citrus Valley High School teacher Laura Elizabeth Whitehurst was Monday night on suspicion of having illicit sex with an underage student, police said, as reported by Los Angeles Daily News. Whitehurst gave birth to a child on June 18. The child was fathered by the 16-year-old who she began her affair with a year ago.
The 28-year-old Whitehurst began her relationship with the teenager last summer during a school activity, police Commander Shawn Ryan said, who led the investigation. The affair last for nearly a year until the teenager's mother reported it to school officials, who relayed it to authorities, police said.
Whitehurst taught English at the high school, while also overseeing other school activities, like Compact Club and Link Crew. She was assistant coach on the varsity girls soccer team.
Her father, Dale Whitehurst, has been a teacher and administrator with the school district for many years. He now teaches English at Beattie Middle School in Highland, news reports said.
Whitehurst was arrested at her residence around 8:45 p.m. Monday after cooperating with law enforcement, She was released later that evening after posting $25,000 bail and is expected in court for a preliminary hearing in 45 to 90 days, police said.
Whitehurst has been placed on leave, meaning she can not be on school property or participate in Redlands Unified School District activities, according to Sabine Robertson-Phillips, the district's assistant superintendent of human resources.
