DESTREHAN, La. — For the fourth time in 10 years, a Destrehan High School teacher has been arrested for having sex with a student.
Geography teacher Kimberly Naquin, 26, was arrested Thursday and booked with carnal knowledge of a juvenile and prohibited sexual contact between a student and educator, according to police records. Naquin is the daughter of St. Charles School Board President Dennis Naquin.
Parents at Destrehan High were in disbelief that the school was dealing with a situation like this, again.
“I guess they have to do better screenings of the teachers and their backgrounds, security background check like they do at the federal government," said Carmen Ibert, a parent of a Destrehan student. "But I guess you can’t prevent it from happening”
“It’s very sad to hear it happened again, especially here at Destrehan where my daughter attends,” Gene Hyorth, said another parent from the school.
St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said the sexual relationship with the female student took place when the girl was 16 and 17 years old.
Champagne said the teacher-student relationship lasted for more than a year. He said one of the alleged victim's family members reported the relationship to the sheriff's office Wednesday.
“The relationship began in August of 2014, and continued until September of 2015, at which time we understand the relationship had been terminated for some reason,” Champagne said.
Champagne said he has 10 detectives working on the case.
"We've got a lot of work to do," Champagne said. "Our detectives are working hard. I don't know what that will bring. Where ever that leads us, that's where we're going to go."
Investigators say Naquin had sex with the student in a classroom at the high school, a residence in Destrehan, and at Naquin’s former residence in Kenner, where she faces 10 additional felony counts.
Friday afternoon, Kenner Police Department booked Naquin on the Jefferson Parish charges after she posted her $75,000 bond in St. Charles.
Authorities are now investigating whether any Destrehan school officials knew about the illegal relationship and failed to report it.
"We're going to interview anybody who has any relevant information about that possibility," Champagne said. "That is going to be done."
Champagne did not want to weigh in on why this is the fourth Destrehan High teacher arrested for allegedly having sex with a student over the past 10 years.
In 2014, two other teachers, Shelley Dufresne and Rachel Respess, were arrested in connection with having sex with students. The incident sparked national attention.
Dufresne was facing a felony count of carnal knowledge of a juvenile for an alleged sexual encounter with a young man at a home in Montz. Dufresne later pleaded guilty to felony obscenity for having sex with the student, but her conviction was changed to a misdemeanor.
In 2008, the Destrehan High band teacher was arrested on charges of illegal behavior with two female students. Bryon Toups pled guilty to felony charges of malfeasance, intimidation of a witness and a misdemeanor charge of simple battery.
Why the seeming pattern?
"That's probably something more directed to a psychologist or psychiatrist as to why," Champagne said. "You know people would jeopardize there entire career for these kind of reasons, lustful, inappropriate relationships. Like I said, that's maybe a question for Dr. Phil or somebody. I don't know."
Clinical psychologist Dr. Michelle Moore said she worries parents will begin losing trust in the school system.
“I think all schools in general should really have an in-service with teachers to be able to talk about appropriate boundaries with students, and appropriate professionalism at school," said Moore. "I think part of that will sure up parents so that they know they can trust the schools where they’re sending their children to.”
"The school system is fully cooperating with the Sheriff's Office," said a statement from Steve Crovetto, director of public information of St. Charles Parish Public Schools. "The teacher has been suspended without pay in accordance with district policy and procedures pending the outcome of an investigation. This is a personnel issue; therefore, no other information will be released at this time."
Naquin is expected to be arraigned on the St. Charles charges Feb. 18.
Follow Wynton Yates on Twitter: @WyntonYates
