Woman arrested after alleged sex with teenage students

Laura Rich (Credit: Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office)

Laura Rich (Credit: Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office)

A former Ace Academy substitute teacher was arrested Friday on charges of sexual assault against two students.

Laura Rich, 38, of Woodstock, allegedly had sex with a 16-year-old shortly after she starting substitute teaching in early 2015, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jay Baker said.

Rich is also accused of having sex with an 18-year-old student later in 2015. Both incidents took place in her former Acworth home, Baker said.

The Cherokee County School District notified police about the alleged relationships.

The school district’s spokeswoman, Barbara Jacoby, said Rich’s last day as a teacher was Aug. 19 and she is no longer permitted to work as a substitute teacher in Cherokee County.

“Our School District has zero tolerance for inappropriate relationships between students and any adults serving in any capacity in our schools,” Jacoby wrote in an email.

Rich was booked into Cherokee County Detention Center Friday and was released the same day on a $22, 400 bond.