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Placer County Teacher Accused Of Sexual Relationship With Student

PLACER COUNTY (CBS13) – A Placer County special needs teacher has been arrested for having a sexual relationship with a former student, according to the Placer County Sheriff's Department.

"Would never in our right mind think a teacher, whose parents are entrusting, would ever act in such an unlawful manner," Placer County Superintendent Gayle Garbolino-Mojica said.

Deputies arrested 35-year-old Jennifer Lynn Woods and booked her into the Placer County Jail on Jan. 10, on charges of sex with a minor and oral copulation with a minor.

"She was a model employee," said Garbolino-Mojica." "We were taken aback of such a discovery."

The superintendent says they heard in September about the Sierra Vista teacher having a relationship with a student. Detectives believe this relationship started in November 2011 and lasted until just a few months ago.

Woods apparently met the 17-year-old victim when he was a student of hers two years ago. Deputies say they had a sexual relationship for one year, which began when the student was 16. The alleged victim has since transferred to another school.

"That's a priceless time for them. To interrupt, what I call the age of the innocence, it's a horrible thing," parent Michael Klemp said.

The Sheriff's Department began investigating Woods after being contacted by the Placer County Office of Education about one of their teachers having an inappropriate relationship with a former student.

After nine years of teaching, Woods spent the past three months on administrative leave until this week's arrest.

"It is shocking," parent Kurt Ehrenburg said. "It's a pretty small community, and they have some great educators here."

Parents were shocked and sickened, not taking these allegations lightly.

"A year relationship with a 16-year-old, while they're in school? There could be gaps with the school systems monitoring of the children," said Klemp.

Sierra Vista has since closed down because of low enrollment.

Woods, who lives in Granite Bay, bailed out of jail on the day of her arrest.

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