Mesa, Arizona (The Weekly Vice) -- Raeanna Jewell, a 25-year-old basketball and softball coach at Apache Junction High School in Arizona has been jailed on charges of engaging in sexual conduct with a 16-year-old female student.
Jewell was indicted Thursday on two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
According to investigators, Jewell engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a female student athlete in the women's restroom and at the high school's gym. The alleged activity occurred between Jan 1 and March 26. Jewell was arrested March 29 following a brief investigation.
The allegations came to light after the girl's mother became suspicious of the relationship and discovered text messages between the student and teacher on the girl's cell phone. She contacted the school, who then contacted police.
Jewell was the girl's JV coach replacement coach for Jason Beck - who was arrested in February on charges of sexual conduct with a 15-year-old girl. Both teachers now have been indicted on the same charges.
"They were professional peers. Unfortunately, they got caught up in poor judgment," said Captain Tom Kelly of the Apache Junction Police Department. "They should have known better."
Jewell was booked into the Pinal County Jail in lieu of a $750,000 bond. Her arraignment is set for Friday. Beck was released after posting a $25,000 bond.
Jewell, who played for the Gonzaga University women’s basketball team in 2005 was louded as "an intelligent and friendly woman who has been a huge part of the Lady Zags' tremendous success. Appearing in every Gonzaga game since her freshman year, Jewell's aggressiveness and rebounding skills helped the Zags achieve their perfect 14-0 record in the WCC this season."
The Weekly Vice Opinion:
Well you have to hand it to her. She's aggressive alright. One coach right after another - with the same basketball team? Yep, that's consistency, alright.
Danny Vice
The Weekly Vice
http://www.theweeklyvice.com
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10 comments:
They have been indicted on the same charges, but Jewell's bail in $725,000 MORE than her predecessors. I can take a guess why...it was an illicit lesbian relationship. Interesting to see how bail for sex crimes is set not by the severity of the crime but whether it is a heteronormitive crime or not.
Whats up with these teachers? Seems like they want to get caught as stupid as some of them are about these relationships.
the high bail maybe cuz the alleged incident occurred on school grounds...and Beck victim was older than 16...idk
Keep in mind, the male teacher was released on that bail. It doesn't mean bail wasn't set higher initially.
Also, bail is set based on flight risk, and since jewell moved to the area recently, she may pose a greater flight risk - especially if her family resides out of state.
Last of all, I would not be surprised if bail is reduced in this case. It's quite high right now in contrast to most other cases like this.
Once her attorney is able to convince the judge she doesn't pose a great flight risk, bail will most certainly be reduced.
Get your head out of your ass, Kris. This is probably the first time in god knows how long that a woman pedo was treated like man.
And in all likelihood the bail was set higher since teachers in the area seem to be rather indifferent to the law.
So few coaches seem to know how to motivate their players anymore.
But you just wonder. Do they have any proof of this? I mean a kid could say anything and a parent could presume anything? That's ridiculous that we have a celebration of MJ 24 7 but if someone says one thing about a teacher, minister, or cop, it is all over for them. There is no justice for them. I don't believe the coach did this. I think it is made up.
She just has that look...that rug-munching look...
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