A Wisconsin elementary school teacher has been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with an 11-year-old student just three months before her wedding, CBS reported. 24-year-old St. Paul resident Madison Bergmann is now facing serious charges, including first-degree child sexual abuse involving a child under the age of 13.
The complaint, filed Thursday in St Croix County, revealed that police were alerted to behavior at River Crest Elementary School in Hudson. The report specifically noted inappropriate behavior between Ms. Bergmann and a fifth-grade student.
Authorities obtained screenshots of text exchanges between the victim and Ms. Bergmann, found by the victim's parents. She reportedly texted the child “daily” and told him how much she enjoyed “making out” with him and him touching her. According to police reports, these encounters allegedly took place inside the school building, during lunch breaks or after school.
Police also found a folder in Ms Bergmann's bag with the victim's name on it, containing a number of handwritten notes detailing their physical interactions. The duration of the abuse remains unclear. However, Ms Bergmann revealed that she got the child's phone number from his mother in December, during a winter break trip to the Afton Alps. This was also the month she got engaged to her long-time boyfriend. She would get married three months later, in July, the NY Times reported.
Kimberly Osterhues, principal of the school, said in a message to parents: “We are shocked and disturbed by this news. Our primary concern is for the well-being of the River Crest School community and the affected children.”
Ms. Bergmann was released on a $25,000 bond and is prohibited from entering the school building or attending school events. She will appear in court again on May 30.