Teacher Charged With Sexual Molestation of Student

Garden City police today arrested a Chatham County paraprofessional for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a fifteen year old student.  28 year old Erika Simmons was taken into custody just after four Tuesday afternoon.  She worked at Myers Middle School but the incident is alleged to have taken place at her Garden City apartment back in November.  Police say both Simmons and the student have made full confessions.  Police say the two were not directly connected through a class at the school.  Chief David Lyons says they aren’t sure how the relationship developed, “I think she was a cheerleading coach, he played football.  I think they were together and saw each other possibly at football games or practices - that would be my suspicion.”  Simmons is being held at the Chatham County Jail tonight.  She is charged with child molestation, statutory rape and enticement of a child for indecent purposes.  She will be arraigned in Garden City on Wednesday.  Police believe today was her one year anniversary working for Chatham County Schools.