A Mississippi teacher was arrested after being caught in public with an underage student, weeks after resigning amid similar allegations.
At a Glance
- Natalia Wright was charged with felony fondling of an underage student
- Witnesses saw her kissing the teen at a Taco Bell and church parking lots
- Her husband provided audio and video of her admitting to the acts
- She resigned April 3 over initial misconduct claims but continued seeing the student
- Wright was released on a $200,000 bond and faces a June 6 court date
Post-Resignation Contact Sparks Arrest
Natalia Wright, 31, a former special education teacher at Lewisburg High School in Olive Branch, Mississippi, was arrested May 12 after allegedly engaging in romantic behavior with a student in public. According to authorities, she had resigned over allegations of inappropriate contact with the same student but continued to meet with him, including at a Taco Bell parking lot and a local church.
Police reports describe repeated incidents of physical affection between Wright and the minor, including kissing, which prompted criminal charges under Mississippi’s law concerning abuse of trust by educators.
Husband’s Evidence Confirms Misconduct
Key evidence in the case came from Wright’s husband, who reportedly obtained video and audio recordings in which she admitted to the acts. Law enforcement stated that the recordings confirmed the nature of her relationship with the student. The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office described Wright’s behavior as a breach of public trust and charged her with “fondling by person of position of trust”—a felony with serious implications.
Watch a report: Special Ed Teacher Arrested for Student Contact
What makes this case particularly egregious is that Wright had already resigned from her teaching position on April 3 due to inappropriate contact allegations with this same student.
But apparently, that wasn’t enough to keep her away. According to police reports, Wright continued meeting with the student even after quitting her job. Witnesses spotted them engaged in intimate behavior at multiple locations, including a church of all places. When you’re doing something so inappropriate that even divine oversight doesn’t deter you, maybe it’s time to reconsider your actions.
Caught Red-Handed and Red-Faced
The authorities didn’t have to work too hard to build their case against Wright. According to the affidavit, she admitted to kissing the student multiple times while serving as their tutor. Even more damning, her own husband obtained footage and audio evidence of her confessing to these acts. Talk about a marriage-ending revelation. Wright wasn’t just betraying her professional ethics and the law – she was betraying her marriage vows in the process.
The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office didn’t mince words in their assessment, stating that Wright was gratifying “licentious sexual desires” through her actions with the student. The criminal complaint specifically charges her with “unlawfully touching a child under 18 with her mouth.” Not exactly the kind of teaching that parents expect when they send their children to school.
Slap on the Wrist Justice?
Wright was arrested on May 12 and charged with “fondling by person of position of trust” – a felony in Mississippi. But here’s where our justice system shows its true colors: despite the serious nature of her alleged crimes against a vulnerable special education student, Wright was released on a $200,000 bond. She’s currently walking around with an ankle monitor and a no-contact order, awaiting her court appearance scheduled for June 6.
A Disturbing Pattern in Our Schools
Wright’s case is unfortunately just the latest in what seems like an endless parade of teacher-student inappropriate relationships making headlines. The position of trust that teachers hold makes these violations particularly heinous. This educator was entrusted with the care of special education students – arguably among the most vulnerable in our school systems. Instead of protecting and educating this child, she exploited them for her own gratification.
