A high school teacher in Nebraska has been charged with trying to groom and traffic a 16-year-old student to have sex with her boyfriend — then paying her $100 to keep quiet, according to authorities.
Elizabeth Jamie Love, 36, and her 43-year-old beau, Jarid “Jack” Krause, were arrested Friday after one of Love’s high school students reported her unsettling allegations to cops, according to police in her hometown of Holdrege.
The 16-year-old girl claimed she was once in Love’s car when Krause called about wanting to have sex with the teacher — who then told the girl she “would be willing to share” him, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by People.
The girl said the August call left her uncomfortable and made her get out of the car and call a relative for a ride home.
The girl alleged that her teacher then picked her up on Oct. 11, taking her back to her house — where Krause then led her upstairs and made what she took as a request for sex, the affidavit alleged.
The girl refused and left to start walking home. But security footage shows Love trailing her in her car and getting the student to hop in to be taken home, the affidavit said.
Love also texted the girl to “come back and talk to me,” the court docs stated.
Love eventually apologized — but handed her $100 in $20 bills while asking her to keep quiet about it, the affidavit alleged.
Texts between Love and Krause also showed that they discussed the student as early as April to see “if she’s not feeling it,” the affidavit claimed.
Love — who is also a speech therapist for the school district — later told police that the cash was not “hush money” but to help the student buy a new phone, the affidavit stated.
Love and Krause are both facing a charge of sex trafficking of a minor, with Love also facing a count of sexual grooming by a school employee. She was also put on leave.
Both are currently in custody with bail for each set at $250,000. If convicted, they could face up to life in prison and lifetime placement on the state’s sex offender list.
Love has worked as a transition coordinator and educator in the Educational Service Unit No. 11 for several years, in which she travels to as many as 15 schools in the south central part of the state.
The student and Love apparently had a history dating back to when the student was in 7th grade, and the teen nearly moved in with Love during weekdays so she could attend another district, authorities said.
ESU-11 Administrator John Poppert said that Love was placed on administrative leave when officials became aware of the allegations.
“The ESU has cooperated fully with the Holdrege Police Department investigation. The administration also contacted the ESU’s attorney,” he said. “We will continue to work closely with law enforcement, and we thank them for their efforts in this matter.”
