Originally Published on theblaze.com Mar. 26, 2013 4:21pm EAGNews By Victor Skinner EAGnews.org
OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha middle school teacher Shad Knutson found a new way to connect with his students, and he used it to live out his sexual fantasies.
In one year's time, Knutson, now 36 years old, exchanged 26,986 text messages and phone calls – an average of 70 per day – with one of his 14-year-old female students, according to the Omaha World Herald. He exchanged almost as many messages with other 13- to 15-year-old girls at Nathan Hale Middle School where he worked.
He promised good grades if the girls flashed him or discipline if they didn't. He exposed himself to at least one of the girls on school property, and attempted to lure them into sexual encounters. The young girls complained to school officials, who reacted by transferring one student, but failed to take the accusations seriously.
Eventually Knutson coaxed one of the girls into engaging in sexual contact. After school officials attempted to downplay one of the victim's complaints about Knutson touching her breasts, the girl's mother called Child Protective Services and police launched an investigation, according to media reports.
Knutson was found guilty this month of child abuse and sexual assault using a communication device, the World Herald reported.