A HIGH school music teacher who allegedly sent explicit photos to her student also lavished him with trips to New York as she groomed him for sex.
The 39-year-old teacher turned herself in to authorities after police issued a warrant for her arrest following the sickening allegations from her former student.
Ciara Picard was a teacher at Maloney High School in the state of Connecticut when she first met her alleged victim, who was a freshman.
She had resigned from her position on staff before the charges were laid.
According to details in her arrest warrant, Picard began to groom her victim through “friendly” text messages that were “personal and frequent”, until he turned 16.
It was then that Picard allegedly lavished the boy with a solo trip to watch the symphony in New York and told him: “I’ve always wanted to kiss you”.
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According to authorities, the physical abuse began with a kiss that night before she escalated her abuse.
She shared explicit photos of herself along with graphic descriptions of “how bad she wanted” him.
Picard allegedly took the victim on more trips to New York and treated him with expensive dinners and gifts.
She would also tell the victim she “loved” him.
The victim told police Picard visited his house after school when no one else was home.
It was in his home that she attempted to perform oral sex on him – the victim told police that he did not know what to do and felt like he had to comply.
The alleged abuse took place several years ago and was only identified after the victim turned 25.
Picard denied any wrongdoing when she was first interviewed by investigators in August, before admitting her interactions with the male student “definitely crossed a line”.
She said their “relationship” was “not okay”.
Picard has been charged with five counts of second-degree sexual assault and was released on $25,000 bond.
She is scheduled to appear in court on December 16.
School officials said their first priority was “always to assure the safety and well-being of our students and staff”.