A former Texas schoolteacher was taken into custody Tuesday following allegations that she had inappropriate relationships with students, almost a year after authorities first opened an investigation into her conduct.
Holly Adams, a former teacher at Angleton High School near Houston, faces one count of tampering with evidence and two counts of purchasing or furnishing alcohol to a minor, according to the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began after a student reported to school staff that Adams was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a former student, KTRK-TV reported.
Holly Adams, a former Texas high school teacher, is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with male students. (Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office; Getty Images)
According to the outlet, the student told officials that the alleged victim FaceTime-called him during the summer from a bedroom inside Adams’ home, where nude photos of her were spread across the bed. The report also cited another image that allegedly showed Adams cuddling with the former student.
Adams also reportedly invited students to her home to do chores and allegedly acknowledged communicating on Snapchat with three members of the school baseball team.
Desks in a high school classroom. (Sergio Flores/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Gail Saltz, MD, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, said some female teachers who sexually abuse male students may convince themselves that the relationship is legitimate.
“They’re more likely to be psychologically both grooming their victim, but also what’s called self grooming,” Saltz told News Outlet. “They are convincing themselves that what they are doing is having an intimate, romantic relationship that is benefiting the victim as well.”
A gavel, legal books, and a statue of Themis are displayed on a judge’s desk. (iStock)
Saltz noted that the damage done to the male students is just as damaging as female victims.
“It is easily as damaging in terms of, you’ve been abused by an adult. And that adult took advantage of your trust,” she said. “That violated boundaries that you weren’t ready for.”
Adams was taken to the Brazoria County Detention Center and released on a $26,000 bond the same day. She no longer works for the Angleton Independent School District, a spokesperson told News Outlet.
News Outlet has reached out to the sheriff’s office.
