BUCKEYE, AZ — Buckeye police have arrested a 23-year-old former teacher and athletic coach accused of sex crimes involving a student.
Police say officers were contacted last week about suspected inappropriate contact between a teacher, Alyssa Todd, and a student at Odyssey Institute for Advanced and International Studies High School.
Investigators say communications between Todd and the 15-year-old victim were reviewed and other evidence gathered, which indicated that sexual abuse occurred on- and off-campus for at least two months.
Court paperwork alleges Todd's husband found sexual handwritten notes and later online messages between Todd and the student. Todd’s mother-in-law called police, according to Buckeye PD.
Todd was arrested on Wednesday, March 22, at a home in Buckeye on charges of sexual conduct with a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor.
“This is the third arrest of a female sexual predator with ties to our local schools in less than a year,” Buckeye police say.
On April 8, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced Todd was indicted on six counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and one count of aggravated luring of a minor.
“It is extremely concerning to me that teachers, who are in a position of power and trust, are manipulating and taking advantage of students,” shared County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “I commend our prosecutors and the Buckeye Police Department for their work in ensuring this defendant is held accountable.”
