Teacher Charged With Raping Student

Save

Posted: 5:47 PM Dec 11, 2007
Last Updated: 6:05 PM Dec 11, 2007

54 comments

A | A | A

A former teacher from northeastern Kentucky has been arrested, charged with raping a 15-year-old boy.

Crystal Wells was a math teacher at Deming School in Robertson County. She resigned from her job earlier this year after state police launched an investigation into her dealings with a student at the school.

Police say family members of that student found text messages on his phone which showed an inappropriate relationship between the boy and Wells. Police say after more investigation, they learned Wells had sex with the boy on six different occasions.

School officials say all the liaisons between the teacher and student happened off school property.

Wells was indicted by a grand jury on six counts of 3rd degree rape. She turned herself in to police on Tuesday morning.

3rd degree rape is defined as a person over the age of 21 who has sexual intercourse with someone under the age of 16. It is punishable by a sentence of 5 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

More Stories
Fireworks a hit, despite soggy weather

Grant County authorities ID water skiing accident fatality

Parents now fined for not using booster seats

Investigators seek cause in fatal house fire

Truck crashes into family's backyard

Kentuckians gather at Capitol for tax protest

2 children, 2 adults killed in house fire in Louisville

Busy Independence Day for police in Eastern Kentucky

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 23, 2007 at 12:31 PM
Huh, (edited) i'd want to be that boy, and I bet many other too. Where does it say that the boy suffered? The laws are ridiculous.

Posted by: Defending Lauren on Dec 17, 2007 at 11:24 AM
You are correct about her being someone's daughter,sister, granddaughter and mother, but......that does not excuse what she did. She took advantage of a boy. You are so quick to defend her, what about the boy she did this to? Do you even care how he feels, how he's doing? No, the only thing you see is how malicious people can be. Always remember "What goes around comes around". I only hope and pray it doesn't happen to her children.

Posted by: attn.lauren on Dec 15, 2007 at 03:35 PM
Iam not defending what this teacher did, she will be punished for what she has done, in more ways than one.I have two children that she taught and they never did better.Don't you think if she told her classs that that someone would have said somthing by now, that was more than two yrs. ago. Don't believe everything that you hear or read.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: ky on Dec 15, 2007 at 02:55 PM
Lauren, maybe you should get a little help also for getting on here and writing something like that! All you are doing is passing on some malicous gossip that you heard, or maybe you didn't even hear it?? You have been told.....well, I've been told lots of things that was not true. Do you have children? What about some of the rest of you, do you have children? Well,what I would like to ask is how would you feel if your little darling was standing in Crystal's place. Would you be so quick to call them "hardcore" and other terrible things? You had best watch what you say because you never know when it might come home to you! I am not defending what Ms. Wells is accused of doing but I do know that she is not the terrible person you are making her out to be. She is someone's daughter, sister, granddaughter, & mother. Try imagining yourself in their place right now instead of writing this mean stuff.

Posted by: johnny Location: ky on Dec 15, 2007 at 07:46 AM
the teacher did the wrong thing she should pay the price.but i dout the court system will give her any time.but if had been a man he would get time.we need to rember that all teachers are knot like this one most are good people and are there to help the kids.we need to pray for her and every one that this has hurt.rember that god does forgive and we must to.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: ky on Dec 14, 2007 at 03:50 PM
This should go to show us all, that we never know all the things our kids are up too no matter what they tell us,Have we as parents failed to do our jobs?Or is it just the society.Like a previous comment said who do we tell our children to trust now? NOT the cops,judges,dr.s or lawyers,teachers,and lets not forget our very poor social services!I think they should go back to hanging!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Parent Location: Mt. Olivet on Dec 14, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Just wondering.....Are the parents keeping an eye on the boy, making sure that this woman is not trying to see their son now? I read that she was suspended from teaching at Deming for a week but still seemed to have sex with the boy in the time that she was suspended. She seems to be one hardcore woman. She needs some psychological help or this warped behavior of hers will continue.

Posted by: Lauren Location: Maysville on Dec 14, 2007 at 09:58 AM
Could someone out there please tell me what a 33 year old woman finds sexually appealing in a 15 year old boy? She is a sexual predator. I have been told that this is not the first boy she has made advances to. One time she told her class that she didn't wear any panties, so this boy went up to her and touched her bottom.....apparently it wasn't the boy she was interested in so she sent him to the principal's office, he was then suspended from school for a few days. Now, what does that tell you about this teacher? I think she needs some mental help before this happens again.

Posted by: Judy Location: Hazard on Dec 14, 2007 at 01:28 AM
To Mom..What does this have to do with the age difference of the Lt Governor and his fiance'? We're not talking about age difference here, we're talking about a minor. A 19 year old is not a minor...

Posted by: Fred Location: Lexington on Dec 13, 2007 at 09:10 PM
Attaboy Bill!

Posted by: r Location: ky on Dec 13, 2007 at 08:20 PM
Let he without sin cast the first stone

Posted by: steve on Dec 13, 2007 at 06:19 PM
Its no suprise with a liberal ran organazation its only going to get worse what a shame.

Posted by: yeeha! on Dec 13, 2007 at 06:16 PM
Where was these teachers when i went to school !

Posted by: Kylady Location: Ky on Dec 13, 2007 at 05:39 PM
Juat because anon's family started such as it did doesn'thave anything to do with this case.Just incase you missed it,'anon',the boy is having to 'pay a price'.It sounds like all the 'Bills" posting here are warped... Fl's Bill from that 9 year 'affair'.How disgusting!The other Bill hopefully would feel different if he had a fifteen year old daughter some pervert was molesting.It's the same thing,only difference is it being a boy or girl.I bet if Bill had a daughter,and she 'agreed' to have sex with a 35 yr old man,he'd feel much different...either that or he 'likes' teenagers,too.It blows my mind how demented some can be about child sexual abuse!Jeez!

Posted by: bill Location: fl. on Dec 13, 2007 at 03:57 PM
Oh, by the way.She was my sixth grade teacher.

Posted by: parent Location: Southern KY on Dec 13, 2007 at 03:33 PM
When did school become a place for "desperate teachers" to look for love????? You can tell that the education is being thrown out the window with the morals.... This just angers me, that kids really need their education in today's society. And this is what I have to worry about for my children. I think the punishment should be extremely harsh for the teachers. Parents are have to "trust" them, their suppose to be a role model in our children's lives?????

Posted by: bill Location: fl. on Dec 13, 2007 at 03:20 PM
When I was twelve years old there lived next door A very pretty lady. I did odd jobs for her when her husband was not home. One evening I went over to do my choirs and she let me into the house. She had on very little clothing.At first I was very scared,but I knew I wanted to do more than look. That started a nine year affair. I am now 61 years old and it did not do any damage to me or anyone else. I grew up between 12 and 13. The rest was pure delight.

Posted by: Don't judge on Dec 13, 2007 at 12:41 PM
Before you start judging her husband and family just remember that they did not know anything about the sitiuation between her and the student. I have been friends with the husband for over 20 yrs. and he is just looking out for the best interest of his children. Lets not forget that there are children involved...

Posted by: anon on Dec 13, 2007 at 11:39 AM
I'm not saying that this teacher should not get punished, because she should. Anyone over the age of 18 knows when you have sex with a minor you're going to get screwed over more than once. But just because someone is 15 doesn't mean they are a kid or don't know any better. And it doesn't matter if it's a boy or girl. The kid should have to pay a price too. If they didn't want it to happen they could have said no or told someone. I'm a female and I had a couple of crushes on male teachers, it works both ways. Further more my dad was 30 when he met my step mom who was only 13 at the time. And my step brother was born when she was 15, and she was perfectly willing for everything. I'm just saying, ask the younger party in cases like this if there was consent on both sides before you throw the older one in jail or label them a pedophil for the rest of their life.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Kentucky on Dec 13, 2007 at 09:25 AM
What on earth is wrong with these teacher's! I'm sorry but that is just disgustingly wrong.

Posted by: poweel co.mother Location: clay city on Dec 13, 2007 at 08:04 AM
I have a boy and 2 girls that go to our local public schools.The oldest is 13 years old.they make us send our children to school when they are sick.If we dont then they take us to court give a big fine or possable jail time.they dont mention any were that one of the teachers there could be having sex with our children or they could get a viral disease that is not curable did you know that if another student hits your child he or she is not allowed to defend themselves but if a student hits a teacher there will be an automatic reaction from the school.the teachers are protected and not the students not very fair is it

Posted by: bill Location: lexington on Dec 13, 2007 at 07:59 AM
is this like the Mary Kay Loturno case where she was accused of rape, had 2 kids by the boy spent her time in prison and now they are married. yeah that boy was really taken advantage of. im sorry when i was 15 i would have gone after any lady that was offering. what she did was ethically wrong, she should be fired and never allowed to teach again, but not sent to prison

Posted by: j on Dec 13, 2007 at 07:15 AM
As parents we try to teach our kids whether they are boys or girls, the right lessons in life and then to have someone in the respected and trusted position of a teacher to carry on such acts with our kids. It's disgusting, no matter what the gender of the student or the teacher. Kids today are exposed to way to much of the wrong influences and if we parents can't trust the teachers, then what are we gonna do?

Posted by: Concerned Location: Lexington on Dec 13, 2007 at 01:06 AM
Chris, if they are given birth control at that young of an age, it's not saying that they are encouraged to have sex, but that a large portion of them are. And if they are making the "mistaken decisions" who's to say that they'll make a smarter decision to take the birth control?

Posted by: Earwig Location: Prestonsburg on Dec 13, 2007 at 01:01 AM
Teachers are just like any other professionals; doctors, lawyers, etc. They come in good and bad. There are many more good teachers than bad. Kentucky has many wonderful teachers who give much of their life to educating and sincerely caring for the well- being of Ky children.

Posted by: someone Location: ky on Dec 13, 2007 at 12:05 AM
i think the boy deserves just as much punishment as the woman...you cant rape the willing.

Posted by: Rachel Location: Somerset, Ky on Dec 12, 2007 at 11:26 PM
Well Folks, what I was saying is true. After I left my comment here I went on to read some other comments and when I do, guess what I see???? A WOMAN IN THE BABY MURDER TRIAL GET RECOMENDED 5 YRS BY JURY!!! Man you all got to let this crap go w/ the teacher. Besides if she hadnt been a teacher, this wouldnt have made the news anyways!!!!!!

Posted by: Someone Location: Mt.Olivet on Dec 12, 2007 at 10:15 PM
I honestly think this is ridiculous. Like someone said, its been going on for awhile and nothing was done. Pay attention people. I would check my kids phone all the time now. You never know what could be going on. Pure stupidity.

Posted by: trish Location: menifee on Dec 12, 2007 at 06:09 PM
I don't care if it's a boy or a girl, this is morally wrong for someone in this position to be having sex with a child, whether it was agreed upon by both parties or not, this is a child, someones child. I believe that an adult should be a role model for children, lord knows there are alot, that aren't, but I also believe that there are adults who think about what their doing before they do it. One of the things we as adults should remember, this was a 15 yr old boy, not a man, body may say man, but mind says child. There should be stricter laws against people who do this to our children. There are wonderful teachers in the system, more are, than not, but remember these are our children the only way to stop this, is to make this a crime with serious consequences!

Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 12, 2007 at 05:12 PM
i bet the boy is not complaning.

Posted by: Kylady Location: KY on Dec 12, 2007 at 05:12 PM
Well,concerned-Just because some buttheads give middle schoolers condoms,or birth control in any form does NOT mean they can make good decisions about sex-and just because they gave these kids condoms,or any BC DOESN'T mean they expect teachers to use these free condoms to sexually abuse these kids.Maybe now you'll understand what I was meaning.As I and others have stated before...he's a child...she is an adult-she IS to blame.She is the one who was supposed to be in authority of these kids she was SUPPOSED to be TEACHING,but not teaching sex.Somehow,I doubt the parents of this child didn't expect sex to be what was being taught.She should be made an example.We're hearing about this way to often.

Posted by: Chris Location: SE KY on Dec 12, 2007 at 04:16 PM
If this was a male teacher and a female student, EVERYONE would be saying it's rape. Just because the genders were reversed doesn't change a thing. It's not forced physical rape, it's called statutory rape. On another note, just because kids are being given birth control pills doesn't mean that they are being encouraged to have sex. It means that if they do make the mistaken decision at an early age, they won't end up being a child raising a child. The result of that is a ruined and wasted life. Some parents think they are in control of their children. They really have no idea what they are doing when out with their "peers". I actually am against giving children that young birth control pills. Not for the moral or ethical reason, but rather for the adverse health effects birth control pills can cause. Abstinence should be the first line of defense. After that, condoms. There are also STD's that can ruin a life or even kill.

Posted by: ??? Location: somerset on Dec 12, 2007 at 03:25 PM
fayette teacher, if you have all the respect you think you have you would not be on here snapping off, and you are more than likely one of these teachers we should watch, and another thing you paint the picture as you are a teacher if you are one than why did you post this post between 10:00-3:15 because those are the times i was on here, shouldn't you be in school or are you one that works real hard at playing on the net all day

Posted by: sad Location: KY on Dec 12, 2007 at 03:17 PM
I agree, although this is clearly statuatory rape, physical rape would be challenging for woman to commit on a man. How sad for her husband and child. And to the comment on the student's age... when I was in high school, I was in the minority of 15 year olds were weren't having sex. Oral sex is the hot new thing for teens, but the old-fashioned way is what my friends were doing. It's sad.

Posted by: Mom Location: Lexington on Dec 12, 2007 at 02:52 PM
If a male teacher had sex with a 15 year old girl, consentual or not, he would be called a pervert or pedophile and convicted of a sex crime.....as he should be. This is the same situation, only reversed and this woman needs to be treated the same as a man would. Either way, it is a crime against a child who is not mature enough to make this kind of decision even though at 15 they think they know it all. As for a class to teach teachers what is morally and legally correct in regards to a child.........I have not had that class and I know this is improper behavior and what adult in their right mind would be interested in an intimate relationship with a child!?!?!? This is not a reflection of a teacher but one of a warped individual!!

Posted by: MOM Location: LEXINGTON on Dec 12, 2007 at 02:16 PM
This situation is morally wrong- but yes, most 15 yr old boys would jump on the opportunity to be with an older women. So both should be blamed.. But then look at our new Lt Governor and the age difference in his fiance' and him- She was 19 when they started dating!!!!

Posted by: Concerned Location: Lexington on Dec 12, 2007 at 01:58 PM
Kylady, unfortunately you are wrong about NO 15 year old being capable of making the decision to have sex... well at least to the government of Maine. They are giving MIDDLE SCHOOLERS birth control. I believe that explains that they do have a decision and have chosen. Also, Anonymous, I presume that you don't have children... because you state if your kid was in school you would take "it" out of school? No wonder they turn to teachers for attention. Treated like objects at home.

Posted by: Know the Law Location: Cynthiana on Dec 12, 2007 at 01:26 PM
Rape in the 3rd degree does not mean she physically raped him!!! DUH!!! It means she took advantage of someome that was underaged, mentally handicapped 0r 21 years less her age and under the age of 16. Know the facts before you write things that are obsured.

Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 12, 2007 at 01:07 PM
To teacher who committed on anonymous, practice what you preach, you didn't pay attention to English class either, you spelled teacher WRONG...Now when it comes to RAPE male or female, a child under the age CAN NOT make the consent for sex, they are considered by law a child and it is the adults responsibility to put the child right, regardless if the child consented or pursued.

Posted by: Teacher Location: Fayette on Dec 12, 2007 at 01:03 PM
and I will learn to spell!!!!!

Posted by: Sad on Dec 12, 2007 at 01:02 PM
I don't know if this woman has a husband or children, but if she does i feel terrible for what they must be going through. How is she going to react if this happens to her children when they are 15. This is starting to happen more and more now, don't just let anyone teach our children.

Posted by: former sub Location: Maysville on Dec 12, 2007 at 12:42 PM
Something the news has not mentioned..this WOMAN is a mother and wife......the boy was a student in her class at one point. She has lied and so did the school when they said it was not aware of the situation. It was reported in spring and those who reported it THREATENED and told it would be handled....

Posted by: A Teacher Location: Fayette on Dec 12, 2007 at 12:01 PM
To Anonymous, like the techer from paintsville said don't judge all teachers by the action of this one tacher. And until you do the job don't critize those of us who are doing it. anyway, it looks like you don't look up to your teachers by not paying attention in English class, Learn to write!!!!!!

Posted by: Nana Location: Printer on Dec 12, 2007 at 11:39 AM
The colleges and universities that teach these "teachers" need to have required classes that deal with what is legal and allowed in the classroom, OR OUT OF IT. I didn't say moral because some of these places believe that is an old-fashioned and outdated term. Some of the cutesy, completely useless classes could be dropped in order to make time in the schedule for self-control and legal no-nos classes. By the way, to those who don't think that it's so bad for a woman to have sex with a student, or you-can't-rape-a-man, THIS IS NOT A MAN, HE IS LEGALLY A CHILD AND SHE IS AN AUTHORITY FIGURE.

Posted by: Kylady Location: Ky on Dec 12, 2007 at 11:20 AM
Well,Bill,Ralph,and Andy.It's not about her being 'able' to PHYSICALLY rape this 15 year old...it's about ethics.She's an adult,and I dont care what boys think when they're 15,there are no reason an adult should be coming onto a child.She absolutely should 'take all the heat'.She's an adult.Everyone knows boys mature slower than girls,and NO 15 year old is capable of making a decision to have sex with and ADULT.It's not like it was two teenagers messing around and getting caught,guys.That's why the authorities are calling it rape.Understand?

Posted by: A Teacher Location: Paintsville on Dec 12, 2007 at 10:56 AM
Please do not criticize everyone in a profession based on one persons actions. Most teachers dedicate tehir life to help students become life long learners and productive members of society. The shame is in the fact that the media only chooses these isolated incidents to report.

Posted by: Bill Location: Maysville on Dec 12, 2007 at 10:28 AM
well it takes two to tango, yeah this shouldnt have happened but the women shouldnt have to take all the heat.

Posted by: S on Dec 12, 2007 at 09:14 AM
I went to high school with this "teacher" and I must say...this doesn't surprise me.

Posted by: ralph Location: kentucky on Dec 12, 2007 at 08:48 AM
I AGREE WITH ANDY, YOU CAN'T RAPE A MAN. WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD I WOULD HAVE LIKED FOR A YOUNG FEMALE TEACHER TO COME ON TO ME.

Posted by: ??? Location: Somerset-KY on Dec 12, 2007 at 07:54 AM
What in Gods name is happening to our world which we live, I was in school to become a teacher and i worried alot about rummors and such being spread over issues like above, let me say I understand this person is more than likely guilty but with things like this going on it seems that the people that have good intent are afraid to go into this field and the ones that have no concern for this go on.

Posted by: Andy on Dec 12, 2007 at 07:00 AM
Gee, anyone knows a woman can't rape a man.

Posted by: mary Location: pikeville on Dec 12, 2007 at 02:47 AM
I think she should get more than 5 years. If we don't make stiffer punishments it will just happen again. I think she should get life with out parole.

Posted by: Poor Man Location: Danville on Dec 11, 2007 at 11:31 PM
Looks like we have to worry more about female teachers hurting our kids then men, thats a new trend, what a shame....

Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 11, 2007 at 11:13 PM
cant trust teacher any more if my kid was in school i would take it out in a heart beat.cant trust teachers cops judges preachers.. thes people is the ones u told your kids to look up to..because u trusted them..cant do that any more..sad sad sad