A New Haven Public School teacher accused of an alleged sexual relationship with a student appeared in court on Thursday.
Kirvana Jones, a teacher employed by the New Haven Public School system, faces charges for second degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor, officials from the city of New Haven said.
At the beginning of February, the New Haven mayor's office told NBC Connecticut that they had been investigating an "unprofessional" relationship with an Engineering and Science University Magnet School student.
The investigation began when another student came forward, alleging inappropriate conduct between Jones and another student. According to the arrest warrant, the witness provided police with partially nude photos of an adult female that she said was obtained from the victim's phone. The photos showed a woman's buttocks, a woman in a colorful bra and purple thong and a woman holding her breasts.
Police said when they initially interviewed the 16-year-old victim he denied a relationship and said he had Jones stored in his cellphone as "J" in order to text or call her about homework. The victim admitted to a sexual relationship after police brought in his legal guardian, the arrest warrant said.
The boy told police that he and Jones had elevated their relationship to "boyfriend and girlfriend" over the course of two academic years, from 2014 to 2016. He told police it was after they began exchanging text messages and phone calls that Jones told the student she liked him and "boundaries were crossed," the affadavit said.
According to the victim, Jones began to text sexually suggestive messages to the boy leading up to his 16th birthday, which is on Dec. 4. During this time Jones allegedly sent him four photos that were "identical" to the ones showed to police by the witness, according to the affidavit.
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On Dec. 2, the boy said Jones picked him up and brought him to her New Haven apartment on Chapel Street and engaged in intercourse. After the alleged encounter, the victim said he received a text message from Jones that read: "I can't believe I just did that!"
About two weeks after the incident, the boy said Jones would not let him talk or stand up in class like she had in the pass. According to the victim, Jones allowed him to maintain an above B average when he wouldn't do homework but this changed after their sexual encounter.
On Feb. 8, police obtained a search warrant for Jones' apartment and found a blue, pink and gold bra that was "identical" to the one shown in photos. Additionally, police took photos of furniture that matched the items shown in the photos.
One juvenile witness told police that Jones called the victim "sloppy" and told him he was "supposed to delete" the photos after she sent them, the court documents said.
Jones was "immediately" removed from the classroom after the investigation came to light, New Haven Public Schools said in a statement.
New Haven school officials said they do not believe any other students or teachers were affected or involved.
Jones was being held on a $75,000 bond but it was reduced to $50,000.
