RIPLEY, TN - A Ripley High School teacher and softball coach was charged with sexual battery and statutory rape and arrested Tuesday, June 3, 2008. Police say Amy Elder, 28, had a sexual relationship with at least two girls at Ripley High School over the past two years.

Residents were shocked to hear of the accusations, but not all students.

"I heard she was messing with other students and having sexual intercourse. It's been going on for a while anyway," said Mercedes Norfork, a student at Ripley High School.

According to the Lauderdale County indictment, Elder had a sexual relationship with a 17 year-old girl from September to October 2006. Police say there was another sexual encounter on Christmas Day of 2006. Documents also show Elder had another sexual relationship with a 15 year-old girl from March to June 2007. Police say there was another encounter on News Year's Eve 2007, and that the relationship continued between January and March of 2008.

Elder's softball players say they knew of their coach's sexual orientation, but never believed Elder would have a relationship with a teacher.

"She was always the type of person who would take you to get something to eat after a game or something like that," said student Sha Richardson.

"She never came at us like that... the softball team. She never showed any emotion toward us," said Mercedes.

According to the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department, Elder was released from jail, without bond, Wednesday, June 4. Her trial is scheduled to begin October 21, 2008.

Elder also taught marketing and finance classes for the DECA program at Ripley High School. She has been suspended from teaching at the school, pending the outcome of the trial.

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