While on a trip to Africa with the family of one of her students, Haeli Way became intimate with one of her 17-year-old students.
The 29-year-old math teacher at Westlake High School, in Austin, Texas was arrested on two counts of felony improper relationship between educator and student, for a pair of alleged months-long relationships with teenage boys.
Police say the alleged crimes occurred during the summer and fall of 2015. Under Texas law, it is illegal for teachers to have sex with students, even if they are at least 17 years old, the state’s legal age of consent.
With that being said, however, she will not have to register as a sex offender and her attorney said she will likely get probation when she is sentenced on March 10, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Wey was allegedly involved in two different months-long relationships with teenage boys at the high school.
Police say the crimes occurred during the summer and fall of 2015.
Wey met the first boy at a student ministry program in June of this year, and later, that summer accompanied him and his family to Africa on a ministry trip.
While on that trip she and the student, 17, had sex approximately ten times according to an affidavit acquired by 48 Hours’ Crimesider.
The two then had a months-long relationship that ended when the student learned that Wey and another student, also 17, had been out together on a hike this fall.
The first student eventually told his parents about his alleged relationship with Wey, while the second student said they engaged in ‘sexual contact’ while out on their hike.
Wey was fired from her job in late October and voluntarily surrendered her teacher certification on December 15th.
According to the Eanes Independent School District, which runs nine Texas schools including Westlake High, Wey passed background checks before being hired.
Sassy Liberty