Teacher accused of sexual assault

BENTONVILLE — A home-school teacher was arrested Tuesday in connection with sexually assaulting a student.

Alisa Andrews, 50, of Rogers was being held Wednesday in the Benton County Jail on a $25,000 bond. Prosecutors haven’t filed formal charges against her. She was arrested in connection with sexual assault in the first degree, which applies mostly to adults who engage in sexual activity with a minor.

Rogers police began an investigation in September after a church pastor reported a parent told him a homeschool teacher was in an inappropriate relationship with a student, according to a probable cause affidavit. The student attended a home-school program at the pastor’s church.

The 17-year-old girl told police she and Andrews were having a sexual relationship, according to the affidavit.

Andrews was a teacher through a home-school education association and director of Stage One Entertainment, which produces an annual community theater production with child actors, according to court documents.

The teen told police the two began having a sexual relationship in March. She said she knew the relationship was wrong and tried to end it, according to the affidavit.

She told police their relationship was always consensual.

The girl said Andrews was her biology teacher the semester before their relationship began, but wasn’t her teacher when it started, according to the affidavit.

The teen said she recently tried to end the relationship, and Andrews texted her she was at the lake and was going to take a bunch of pills, according to the affidavit.

A friend convinced her she was being manipulated by Andrews and the teen talked to her parents, according to the affidavit.

Andrews told police she had been expecting them when they went to her house, according to the affidavit.

Andrews’ arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 9 in Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren’s court.