Bethel Teacher Arrested, Accused Of Having Sex With Student

A teacher at Bethel High School was arrested Thursday for allegedly having sex with one of her students.

Pottawatomie County Sheriff's deputies arrested 40-year-old Wendy Hickman after a 16-year-old male student came forward alleging the two had sex in late July 2012.

Read the probable cause affidavit. Warning: Graphic content.

The student told police that Hickman had also sent him nude photographs of herself, which investigators and the Bethel Schools Superintendent Jerry M. Johnson confirmed to be her.

The student told police they only had sex the one time.

Hickman is in the Pottawatomie County Jail, accused of second-degree rape. She taught English at Bethel High School.

Superintendent Johnson released the following statement to News 9 regarding Hickman's arrest: 

"Our school system was notified by Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Department that Wendy Hickman, a former employee of Bethel High School was arrested yesterday afternoon and arraigned Thursday afternoon on charges of second degree rape.

"She was a former freshman English teacher and resigned from that position Tuesday, August 21, 2012.

"Sorry, but we cannot discuss personnel issues further than that.

"Bethel Schools has always cooperated with local law enforcement authorities.  We are cooperating with them now and will continue to support their efforts whenever asked.  We have a resource officer from the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's office on campus that has been extremely helpful to our administration.

"Bethel Schools has always been well known as a quality educational institution and our patrons are very aware that we are extremely dedicated to the safety of our students."