A former Arkansas High School teacher pleaded not guilty to sexual assault involving a 17-year-old student at a hearing in Miller County Circuit Court Tuesday morning.

Brenda Shelene “Shelly” Fant, 32, appeared with her attorney for an arraignment hearing before Circuit Judge Jim Hudson.

Hudson scheduled Fant to appear for a pretrial hearing in early September and scheduled her for trial later that month.

If Fant is convicted, she faces between six and 30 years in an Arkansas prison. A conviction would also mean the former educator will have to register as ...