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http://www.wrdw.com/schools/headlines/Middle_School_counselor_arrested_for_child_molestation_investigation_continues_119804669.html


News 12 at 6 o'clock / Wednesday, April 13, 2011

WAYNESBORO, Ga. -- An Evans mother of two is facing serious criminal charges. GBI agents say she was having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old.
Heather Newman Hart was a counselor at Burke Middle School, and Sardis police say they caught her with a young high school student Monday night. GBI agents say they unfortunately see horrifying cases involving children all too often--rape, molestation, murder. But even they were shocked when asked to investigate a school counselor.
Special Agent in Charge Mike Ayers says Sardis police asked the GBI to become involved in the Heather Hart investigation Monday night. Sardis police allegedly caught Hart in a car in a local neighborhood acting inappropriately with a 14-year-old boy.
"They had reason to believe there was a possible sexual relationship that was ongoing between Ms. Hart and the high school student," Ayers says. He says he can not expand on the investigation in detail before it goes to trial, but his agents uncovered evidence which they believe proves the sexual relationship existed and had existed for quite some time.
Ayers says often, long-term abuse cases happen between family members or within the same home. But he says this case is different. "In this situation it's rather rare that you have an ongoing relationship this long that hasn't been discovered sooner than this." He adds that the GBI always acts especially quickly with cases involving children.
"Shocked that that's going on!" said Lexie TenHuisen. She has a son at the high school and a husband who is a teacher, and she says she can't believe anything like this would happen in their school system. "Well, people keep secrets. And I'm not really sure why it went on as long as it did. But it's shocking, and I just hope she's brought to justice."
Ayers says the charges Hart is facing now may only be the beginning. "There is still significant work that needs to be done in terms of creating a time line and looking at the event from a historical perspective." He believes at least a year of sexual involvement is possible, perhaps dozens of incidents for agents to trace back. "Each one of these events can become a separate criminal charge," he adds.
The story is stirring up mixed emotions around Waynesboro. Hart has been employed by the Burke County Board of Education for four years. One of her former students tells News 12, "Mrs. Hart was my counselor in middle school. I am in eleventh grade now. She was always there for me! She was a great person. I was shocked when I heard this. I started crying."
TenHuisen expresses concern for the young man involved. "I hope he gets counseling and leads a healthy and productive life once this is over."
The GBI says Hart turned herself in last night and faces charges for Aggravated Child Molestation, Aggravated Sodomy, Sexual Assault, and Providing False Information to Law Enforcement. Ayers says her criminal record is clean and that there's nothing in her school personnel file to indicate any complaints related to such accusations.
The case is ongoing. The Burke County Sheriff's Office, Waynesboro Police Department and Burke County Board of Education all worked with the GBI on this investigation.

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