TEXARKANA, Texas - A former teacher's aide at Pleasant Grove Independent School District pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge related to alleged sexual misconduct with a male student.
Heather Rose, 38, appeared with Texarkana lawyer Jeff Harrleson for arraignment before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell on a charge of improper relationship between educator and student. Harrelson entered a plea of not guilty on Rose's behalf.
Tidwell scheduled Rose for a pretrial hearing Feb. 1.
Rose is accused of having multiple sexual encounters with a 17-year-old student beginning in October 2019 and ending approximately four months later, according to a probable-cause affidavit. Rose and the boy's encounters allegedly occurred at Rose's home, the boy's home in Bowie County and in parking lots in Texas and Arkansas.
A member of the boy's family contacted law enforcement in mid-August.
Investigators determined that Rose used the social media app SnapChat to communicate with the alleged victim and they have seized digital evidence from cellphones. Rose's husband allegedly went to the student's home at about 3 a.m. in mid-February to confront the student. Rose was allegedly in the student's home at the time but had parked her car out of view.
Rose was arrested in September and released on a $40,000 personal recognizance bond.
If found guilty of improper relationship between educator and student, Rose faces two to 20 years in prison.