KENNER, La. (WGNO) — Two high school teachers in Louisiana are accused of having a threesome with a then-16-year-old student, police said.
Shelley Dufresne, 32, and Rachel Respess, 24, are charged with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, and indecent behavior with a juvenile.
The pair taught English at Destrehen High School.
That’s where, police said, the teachers met the alleged victim Sept. 12 after a football game, then drove to Respess’ apartment where the trio had sex simultaneously until early in the morning the next day.
“You have an educator, I guess the responsibility is the safety and education of children, and when it goes outside those lines I do believe the community should be outraged,” Kenner Police Chief Michael Glaser said.
English teachers Shelley S. Dufresne and Rachel Respess are accused of having a threesome with a then 16-year-old student at Destrehan High School in Louisiana. (Photo: WGNO)
The student, who is a junior at the school, is now 17 but was 16 when the suspected abuse happened. Respess was the alleged victim’s English teacher last year, and Dufresne is his current English teacher, officials said.
For Dufresne, this is her second trip to jail in one week. She’s also facing charges out of St. Charles Parish, where authorities believe her illicit relationship with the student continued.
Dufresne has been a teacher for 10 years and is married with three young children, according to her school profile. Respess’ profile shows that she has been teaching at the high school for two years.
Glaser called the situation unfortunate, but stopped short of describing it as surprising.
“Nothing surprises me anymore, but I do believe it’s lack of a better judgment,” he said. “They should have known better.”
Both women turned themselves into police on Wednesday. Authorities are now combing through their cellphones in search of any evidence in the case.
