Jennie Runevitch/Eyewitness News
Martinsville - What started as a rumor at Martinsville High School ended in the arrest of an English teacher now charged with felony child seduction.
"I heard something about it, but you can't believe everything you hear in high school," said Aaron Brugh, Martinsville sophomore.
Police say 32-year-old Cynthia Renard engaged in sexual contact with a 16-year-old student. After a four-week investigation, Renard turned herself in Wednesday night.
"Really? It's kind of shocking, actually," said another student.
"There was first quite a bit of denial on her, but later on, or at least last night, is when she admitted everything that it did occur," said Frans Hollanders, Martinsville police chief.
Police say Renard befriended the 16-year-old outside of school with phone calls and text messages.
"They were talking just on a one-to-one basis about their personal lives and things of this sort and I guess one thing led up to another," said Chief Hollanders.
Police say in December, Renard asked the teen to meet her at the Martinsville Dairy Queen, then drove him to the Morgan-Monroe Forestry where the alleged sex act occurred.
Renard now faces up to three years in prison and could lose her job.
"It ruins careers for teachers. She's only been a teacher supposedly for about a year and a half to my understanding. She's done as far as teaching's concerned. If she's convicted of it, she'll be labeled as a known sex offender," said Chief Hollanders.
