Posted 11:41 am Thursday, January 29, 2009
Former Rusk ISD Nurse Charged With Improper Relationship With Student
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
RUSK — A former Rusk ISD nurse has been arrested for allegedly having an improper relationship with a student.
Staff Writer
RUSK — A former Rusk ISD nurse has been arrested for allegedly having an improper relationship with a student.
Cherokee County Assistant District Attorney Rachel Patton said Rebecca D. Blankinship, 29, turned herself into authorities Tuesday.
Blankinship was charged with sexual assault of a child and improper student / educator relationship. She has not been indicted, she said.
According to the Cherokee County Jail, Blankinship was booked into jail and then released Tuesday on two $25,000 bonds.
“We’re still trying to determine what exactly happened,” Patton said. “Obviously, the entire situation is very disturbing and emotional for the victim and the family.”
Rusk ISD Superintendent Dr. James Largent said there was an allegation early last week that there was an improper relationship under way between Blankinship and a student.
The case was referred to law enforcement and Blankinship resigned from her position as district nurse last Friday, he said.
Largent would not release information about the student, except that it was a Rusk ISD student.
He said Blankinship was hired last spring and was working her first full school year in the district.
Blankinship did not work with another school district before starting work with Rusk ISD, Largent said.
The investigation is ongoing, he said, and the district is cooperating fully with law enforcement and the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office.
Patton would not comment further about the alleged improper relationship. She said it would be appreciated if the community respected the privacy of the victim and family.
According to the Cherokee County Jail, Blankinship was booked into jail and then released Tuesday on two $25,000 bonds.
“We’re still trying to determine what exactly happened,” Patton said. “Obviously, the entire situation is very disturbing and emotional for the victim and the family.”
Rusk ISD Superintendent Dr. James Largent said there was an allegation early last week that there was an improper relationship under way between Blankinship and a student.
The case was referred to law enforcement and Blankinship resigned from her position as district nurse last Friday, he said.
Largent would not release information about the student, except that it was a Rusk ISD student.
He said Blankinship was hired last spring and was working her first full school year in the district.
Blankinship did not work with another school district before starting work with Rusk ISD, Largent said.
The investigation is ongoing, he said, and the district is cooperating fully with law enforcement and the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office.
Patton would not comment further about the alleged improper relationship. She said it would be appreciated if the community respected the privacy of the victim and family.
