Former Center teacher accused of sex with student

Topless photos on cell phone lead to 23 charges, including sex assault of a child

NACOGDOCHES — Former Center eighth-grade teacher Janet Susan Gallager Parker, 26, surrendered to Shelby County authorities Wednesday, after school officials discovered photographs of the woman, partially-nude and draped in a rebel flag, on a student's cell phone. Those photos eventually led to 23 warrants for her arrest on charges ranging from sexual performance and sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography.

Parker had been suspected of having an inappropriate relationship with a student while she was employed at Center ISD teaching technology applications and graphic arts. However, no proof could be established at that time, according to a press release.

Parker resigned after an investigation was initiated in December 2006 after the school received information that Parker had been seen at a shopping mall, holding hands, according to an affidavit filed with a Shelby County Justice of the Peace. Parker denied the allegations when questioned by school and law enforcement officials, but resigned from her teaching post at the middle school, according to the affidavit.

Although an inappropriate relationship was suspected, there was not enough evidence to support criminal charges, according to the affidavit.

Months later, a cell phone which had belonged to the student suspected of having a relationship with Parker, was taken up in school. Because of that suspected relationship, one of the school staff scrolled through photos saved on the cell phone, according to a statement by an investigator with the Shelby County District Attorney's office, made in the affidavit.

Among the photos was one of a partially-nude woman lying on a bed, nude from the waist up, covered by a rebel flag. The woman was identified as Parker by her former husband, according to an affidavit.

During a search of the student's cell phone, Parker's home and cell phone numbers were listed as "Baby" and "Baby's Cell," the affidavit said.

The investigator said in the affidavit that Parker's ex-husband said he had seen the student at Parker's home several times, some times doing yard work.

A search of her residence and home computers turned up a rebel flag at the foot of a bed, according to an affidavit. Rebel flag blankets were also found on the bed that matched those found on the cell phone, according to the document. Numerous photos were reportedly found of Parker and her student on her computer, as well as e-mails, chats and 15 photographs believed to be child pornography, the affidavit said.

Authorities met with the student who said he had taken several of the pictures found on Parker's computer. He also provided a written statement admitting he'd had sex with Parker, according to the affidavit.

Parker was arrested on 23 warrants, including nine for sexual performance by a child, three for sexual assault of a child and 11 for possession of child pornography third-degree felony.

Parker is represented by Nacogdoches attorney Tim James.