A Richmond County middle school teacher has been charged after reports that she allegedly carried on a sexual relationship with a male student.
Rumah Byrapaka, 24, of Evans was arrested Thursday on charges of child molestation and enticing a child for indecent purposes, according to Richmond County Sheriff’s Office booking records. She is booked at the Charles B. Webster Center in Augusta.
Byrapaka has been a teacher at Hephzibah Middle for two years, according to the Richmond County Board of Education website. She is also a full-time graduate student at Augusta University. Byrapaka teaches physical science and American government at the middle school.
A parent of Byrapaka’s 13-year-old student said her son reported an alleged relationship with the teacher, Richmond County School System officials told the Augusta Chronicle. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and RCBOE police investigated the claims Wednesday, which led to Thursday’s arrest.
The Evans woman has been placed on paid administrative leave, according to the school system.
Support real journalism. Support local journalism. Subscribe to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today. See offers.
Your subscription to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution funds in-depth reporting and investigations that keep you informed. Thank you for supporting real journalism.