Fresno teacher pleads not guilty to charges of sex with student

A Fresno teacher pleaded not guilty Thursday in Fresno Superior Court to three felony charges in connection with her alleged affair with a 14-year-old student at Tenaya Middle School during the spring semester.

Justine Karen Nelson, 30, faces one count of lewd or lascivious act with a minor and two counts of oral copulation. Prosecutors say the actions took place from March to May.

Nelson, who was arrested Sept. 15, is free on $130,000 bail. Her next court hearing is Nov. 3.

Police said Nelson was a fill-in teacher who worked in various Tenaya classrooms when the regular teacher was unavailable. The student is no longer at Tenaya.

Students at the school notified staff after they became aware of nude photos of Nelson posted on the victim’s social media site. Staff then called police.

Police said Nelson gave detectives a statement that was consistent with the victim’s statement and that she admitted to sending a nude photograph of herself.

This story was originally published September 29, 2016 at 4:53 PM with the headline "Fresno teacher pleads not guilty to charges of sex with student."