Paulding teacher charged with sexual assault on student

A Paulding County High School teacher was arrested late Tuesday night on sexual assault charges after Dallas police allegedly caught him in a parked car with a 17-year-old female student.

Eric Woodworth, 42, and the student, whose name was not released, were in Woodworth’s car about 11 p.m. at Sara Babb Park in Dallas when an officer approached the car, police said.

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Eric Woodworth

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Under Georgia legal code, sexual contact between a student and teacher is considered sexual assault because the accused “has supervisory or disciplinary authority over such other person,” even if the relationship is consensual.

The 17-year-old was also arrested for giving a false name and date of birth to the questioning officer, said Cpl. Brandon Gurley of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office.

Woodworth, who teaches physical education and coaches ninth-grade football, was charged with obstruction after confirming the female’s false information with the officer.

The female was still in custody Wednesday evening. Woodworth is being held on $2,950 bond on the sexual assault charge and $1,300 bond on the obstruction charge.

Paulding County school officials could not be reached Wednesday afternoon for comment.