LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A former teacher at Bryant High School has pleaded guilty to transporting a minor across state lines to engage in "unlawful sexual activity."
33-year-old Heather Hare of Conway will be sentenced at a later date but faces a minimum of 10 years to life in prison and a minimum of five years of supervised release.
According to reports, an investigation into Hare showed that she met the minor victim on his first day of senior year while she worked as a teacher at Bryant High. She reportedly began one-on-one counseling sessions with the minor and ended up giving him her personal number. She also proceeded to communicate with the minor through Snapchat and Instagram.
Reports also show that Hare told the minor that she had a "dream of them having sex." She then gave him the address to her home and allegedly engaged in sexual relations with the minor about 20-30 times during the 2021-2022 school year.
Hare also pleaded guilty to engaging in unlawful sexual activity with the minor while on a field trip to Washington, D.C.
“This former teacher took advantage of her position of trust and the vulnerability of a minor, using her role to entice and lure this minor into engaging in unlawful sexual activity,” said Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Our office will continue to seek significant penalties against any educational professional who sexually abuse their students.”
Hare was indicted on August 1, 2023, and charged with one count of interstate/foreign travel for prostitution/sexual activity by coercion and one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
The remaining charge was dismissed in exchange for her guilty plea.
