Madison Teacher Charged For Sex With Students

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 6:29 AM

(Madison, Ind.) - A Madison Consolidated High School band teacher is being charged with having sex with a student.

Jacob Blanton, 25, appeared in Jefferson County Circuit Court on Monday to plead not guilty to charges of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor and Child Seduction. He bonded out of jail on $10,000 bond following the hearing.

Prosecutors allege Blanton had contact with two students. One was age 14 at Madison High School, where many of the encounters took place at school. The student was a member of the school band, which Blanton instructed.

The teacher is also accused of sending lewd text and picture messages to the teen’s cell phone.

Another student was 16-years-old at a different school where Blanton used to teach in New Albany. Because the student was beyond Indiana’s legal age of consent, the relationship led to the less serious Child Seduction charge.

"Mr. Blanton has been suspended without pay. We are recommending the board of school of trustees to terminate is employment at the next school board meeting," Madison Consolidated High School principal Kevin Yancey said in a statement.