Reno County, Kansas, made headlines this week when a substitute teacher was charged with crimes involving minors—including at least one student enrolled at the school where she worked. On May 30, 2025, a special prosecutor filed a five-count of criminal complaint accusing the 39-year old woman of:
- Count 1: Unlawful Sexual Relations
- Count 2: Attempted Unlawful Sexual Relations
- Count 3: Aggravated Sexual Battery
- Count 4: Unlawfully Hosting Minors Consuming Alcohol
- Count 5: Unlawfully Hosting Minors Consuming Alcohol
Like many other criminal actions involving teachers and students, this Kansas case has drawn significant public attention. Seeking an experienced criminal defense attorney’s perspective on the charges, Law&Crime Network’s Kennedi Walker asked Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s Jess Hoeme to delve into the finer points of the case.
In an interview posted June 5, 2025, Hoeme and Walker explore the legal ramifications of the charges and potential sentencing outcomes of the accused substitute teacher. They also discuss how these allegations could impact the defendant’s career in education as well as the possibility of registering as a sex offender in Kansas. The interview also addresses the role of the school in the matter, the anticipated timeline for court proceedings, and broader issues surrounding cases of this nature. Particularly, Hoeme notes the disparity of how male and female educators are often perceived by the public and courts in these cases.
To learn more about this case and to see the full interview, watch Law&Crime Network’s video, “Substitute Teacher Accused of Sex Acts with Teens and Giving Them Booze,” below and linked here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VajOawSJPS4
