A substitute teacher who worked at a Georgia elementary school was charged with 19 counts of child sexual abuse after her arrest on Friday, local officials said.
Amelia Ressler, 30, was arrested after team members at Mt. Zion Elementary School reported allegations of misconduct involving his involvement in “indecent and immoral acts while in the presence of school children,” said Carroll County sheriff’s office in a statement. The school is located near Carrollton, about 54 miles west of Atlanta.
Investigators obtained photos and videos of Ressler masturbating in front of a second grade classroom, Carroll County Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Ashley Hulsey told NBC News.
She said the authorities are in the process of weeks of interviews with the 19 children who were present in the classroom during the alleged incident. Additional charges may be added based on these interviews, according to Hulsey.
Officials at the sheriff’s office and Carroll County Schools have been in contact with the district attorney’s office, Hulsey said.
“We appreciate the dedication that Carroll County Schools have for the safety of their students, as they work diligently to communicate with all parents of affected students and we will continue to work closely with them for the rest of the investigation,” said the Office. Carroll County Sheriff’s said in a statement.
Ressler is currently being held in the county jail. The bond has not been established, prison records show. It is not clear whether she got a lawyer.
NBC News is working to find out more, including when Ressler should appear in court.
