A former northeast Georgia schoolteacher is facing 10 felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from an alleged inappropriate relationship with a student.

The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office said arrest warrants have been issued for Leslie Terrell, 34, of Clarkesville, who worked for the Habersham County school system.

Police said they were contacted around March 19 by the school system when Terrell allegedly gave her personal cell number to a student.

“Although there was no evidence at the time to suggest anything other than policy and ethical indiscretions by the teacher, the school system wanted to employ every measure to ensure that the student’s safety and well-being were not compromised in any manner,” police said Friday. “The investigation has uncovered that at some point during the ethics investigation or following her resignation, Terrell progressed the relationship with the student from one of just inappropriate messaging to a physical, sexual relationship.”

Terrell is facing felony counts of statutory rape; child molestation; enticing a child; sexual assault by persons with supervisory or disciplinary authority; influencing a witness; and false statements. She is also facing misdemeanor counts of obstruction; distributing obscene materials; electronically furnishing obscene materials to a minor; and interference with custody.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for Georgia’s beauty, splendor and natural wonders, such as the Chattahoochee National Forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Union County. (Courtesy of Charles Seabrook)

Credit: Charles Seabrook

Featured

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones — pictured at an August rally in Peachtree City that also featured Vice President JD Vance — appears to have scored another legal victory over gubernatorial rival Attorney General Chris Carr in their battle over campaign finance issues. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2025)

Credit: Arvin Temkar / AJC