The Augusta-area middle school teacher accused of molesting her 13-year-old student was given an additional charge in court Tuesday.
Rumah Byrapaka, 24, was arrested on charges of child molestation and enticing a child for indecent purposes earlier this month, according to Richmond County Sheriff’s Office booking records. The Hephzibah Middle School teacher, who has been put on leave, was charged with sexual assault Tuesday and is being held for Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Charles B. Webster Detention Center, according to jail records. The Evans woman is accused of making sexual contact with a 13-year-old student.
Last week, the middle school teacher, a graduate student, was granted a $15,000 bond for a child molestation charge and a $10,000 bond on a separate charge of enticing a child for indecent purposes, according to a previous report. According to WRDW, she was picked up by ICE on Tuesday and returned to jail after the new charge was issued.
Byrapaka is not a U.S. citizen, but she has a student visa, so she could face deportation.
At the time of her bond hearing, Judge Scott Allen set several conditions on her bond, including no contact with the victim or victim's family, no contact with people under the age of 18 and no teaching at any school.
Byrapaka allegedly sent nude pictures and explicit text messages to the boy and engaged in kissing and indecent touching with him at the school, according to arrest warrants obtained by the Chronicle.
She has been placed on administrative leave with pay, and a spokesperson for the school system has not provided further details on her employment status.
Her teaching career at Hephzibah Middle School began two years ago, according to the Richmond County Board of Education website. During her time there, she has taught physical science and American government. Byrapaka is also a full-time graduate student at Augusta University.
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