Accused Jones County teacher no longer with district

A teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a student resigned shortly before Lenoir County Sheriff's investigators took over the case, according to school officials.

Kathleen Turner, an attorney for the Jones County Board of Education, said Wednesday that Shebana Rajput was suspended in May. Turner would not say why the 35-year-old physical science teacher was suspended.

On May 21, Rajput resigned from her position at Jones Senior High School.

Two days later, Jones County authorities contacted the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office May 23 about an investigation of a sexual assault by a teacher with a student.

On Monday, Rajput was arrested and made her first appearance in Lenoir County District Court Tuesday.

Rajput, of Aaron Johnson Lane, was charged Monday with eight counts of sexual activity with a student and one count of sex offense with a student.

According to the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office, from March through May, Rajput allegedly had nine sexual encounters with a 17-year-old Jones Senior student. Lenoir County authorities got involved because the alleged incidents took place at her home.

Rajput was jailed under a $100,000 bond.