ST. ANTHONY — A former South Fremont High School teacher has been charged with raping a student as well as possessing a controlled substance.

Jessica Lawson, 36, faces two felony counts of rape on a male child between the ages of 16 and 17 by a person older by three years or more, one felony count of a controlled substance delivery, and one misdemeanor count of dispensing an alcoholic beverage to a minor.

Lawson taught at South Fremont High School during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.

According to court records, on Nov. 6 a police officer pulled over Lawson and her alleged victim after noticing a taillight missing from Lawson’s car.

The boy was driving and said Lawson had let him drive because she was inebriated.

“The juvenile said Lawson had authorized him to drive the vehicle due to her being too drunk to drive,” wrote the officer. “(The victim) admitted to having possession of marijuana at the time.”

Later that day, the arresting officer reported receiving a phone call from the victim’s parents. They told the officer that Lawson had picked up the boy around 11 p.m. the previous night and had taken him to Lawson’s St. Anthony home.

Police said the boy told them that Lawson got drunk and provided him with marijuana while at her residence and that the pair engaged in sexual intercourse.

Police reports state that Lawson called the boy’s mother and admitted to picking the victim up from his home and taking him to her residence where she provided him with alcohol.

“Lawson claimed she had marijuana in her home, but that she had not provided it to the victim,” police said. “Lawson denied anything else occurred.”

Lawson was booked into the Madison County Jail and her bond was set at $250,000. Her court-appointed attorney is Allen Browning.