A teacher at a school in Wisconsin was taken into custody and accused of having a sexual affair with an 11-year-old pupil, following the discovery of text exchanges between him and the teacher on his phone by his mother.
Madison Bergmann, 24, is facing charges for engaging in sexual activity with a child below 13 years of age, WCCO reported.
Bergmann and the 5th grader informed authorities that they exchanged phone numbers during winter break when the teacher accompanied the boy and his mother on a skiing trip. They communicated “almost daily” thereafter, and Bergmann explained that she initially took the boy’s number as a precaution in case they got separated at the ski slope.
The child’s mother discovered the text messages between the two when she confiscated his phone upon catching him conversing with Bergmann. The messages contained discussions about their encounters, reportedly occurring in Bergmann’s classroom after school or during lunch.
Reports indicate that investigators found a folder labeled with the victim’s name in Bergmann’s bag. It contained handwritten notes, many of which referenced kissing each other. The boy stated that they frequently wrote notes to each other during the day.
One of the notes from Bergmann to the child recommended ending their relationship.
“One of my cousins is in the 5th grade and I can’t imagine a man talking to her how we talk,” she wrote. “I know we have a special relationship and I do love you more than anyone in the world but I have to be the adult here and stop.”
Bergmann, who worked at River Crest Elementary School in Hudson, has been suspended and instructed to refrain from contacting students, staff, or parents in the Hudson School District, KARE reported. She is also prohibited from entering any district property or attending school events.
The teacher was arrested on Thursday and promptly released after posting a $25,000 bond. She is expected to appear in court on May 30.
[Featured image: Madison Bergmann/St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office]