http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2014/05/ex-assistant_principal_at_pelh.html#incart_river_default Print
Martin J. Reed | mreed@al.com By Martin J. Reed | mreed@al.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on May 15, 2014 at 2:11 PM, updated May 15, 2014 at 2:30 PM
Former Pelham High School assistant principal Catherine Armstrong Bell, 33, of Alabaster faces a four-count indictment accusing her of sexual activity involving a student while she was employed at the school. (Courtesy / Shelby County Jail)
PELHAM, Alabama -- A former assistant principal at Pelham High School has been indicted on four counts relating to sexual activity she had with a male student.
Catherine Armstrong Bell, 33, of Alabaster faces three counts of being a school employee engaging in sexual intercourse with a student younger than 19. She also faces one count of being a school employee engaging in sexual contact involving touching of a student.
The crimes allegedly happened between December 2012 and November 2013, according to the indictment filed in Shelby County Circuit Court on Tuesday.
Bell, who also goes by Catherine Michelle Bell, has an arraignment set for July 7.
She surrendered at the Shelby County Jail in Columbiana on Dec. 12 after authorities issued warrants for three charges of being a school employee engaging in a sex act or deviant sexual intercourse with a student. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office and the Pelham Police Department investigated the case.
The Shelby County School District issued a statement following Bell's arrest that noted the educational system "took immediate action" after being made aware of the allegations.
"The employee was placed on administrative leave while the matter was being investigated by the school district, with the assistance of local law enforcement. She subsequently resigned from her position on November 21," according to the statement.
She posted $90,000 in bonds to secure her release from jail the day of her arrest.