PASADENA, Texas – A former Pasadena school teacher accused of having sexual relationships with several students turned herself in to police on Wednesday.
LaShawn Simmons, 41, was charged with one count of sexual assault of a child under 17-year-old, two counts of engaging in an improper relationship between an educator and a student, one count of online solicitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography.
After turning herself in, Simmons posted bond immediately. She was released on a $60,000 bond.
Simmons is a former math teacher at Beverly Hills Intermediate School. She resigned last month in lieu of termination.
Investigators said Simmons had sex with three of the four Dobie High School students she's accused of having inappropriate relations with. According to court documents, Simmons picked up the boys after school and took them to her southeast Houston apartment.
The alleged sexual encounters took place from January to September 2012, officials said.
Pasadena ISD police sought charges against Simmons after completing a two-month investigation, which followed a complaint from a parent who said she found a sexually explicit message from Simmons on her son's Facebook account.
Simmons was placed on administrative leave without access to students at the school, Pasadena ISD said. She had been employed as a teacher at Beverly Hills for 14 years.
Local 2 spoke to the father of one of the alleged victims, whom we are not identifying. He said he wasn't happy that Simmons was released and believes she's still a threat to young men.
"To me, she should've never got out," said the father. "What she done to these kids, I think she should've stayed in jail without getting out on bond."
Simmons' attorney, Bob Loper, cautions that it's important to remember that at this point, Simmons has only been charged. He also acknowledges that the nature of the charges will make this case a tough one.
"There's going to be a certain segment of the population who are going to believe the charges are true, whether they are or not," said Loper. "Certainly, this case is going to be a difficult case to defend, but we intend to do it to the best of our ability."
Simmons is scheduled to appear in court on March 19.