An Ohio high school teacher has admitted to conduct involving a 15-year-old student in an affair spanning several months.
The suspect, Jamelah Daboubi, 28, who formerly taught at Horizon Science Academy in Columbus, pleaded guilty to charges related to illegal conduct with a minor in Franklin County Court.
The incident was discovered in April 2025 after a relative of the student found the two together in a vehicle.
According to prosecutors, the 10th-grade student stated that they had a relationship lasting several months, which included intimate contact and a high volume of exchanged messages. This is one of several shocking scandals similar to the case of a married teacher who admitted to a relationship with a student right on school grounds that was previously uncovered.
Investigators recovered thousands of messages from the phone, containing content expressing mutual affection.
Following her arrest, Daboubi’s teaching contract was terminated.
Initially, the suspect faced more serious charges, which were later adjusted during the legal process.
According to court information, the sentence could be up to 18 months in prison. This penalty is seen as a necessary deterrent, though not as severe as the life sentence handed down in shocking cases involving the safety of minors. Additionally, the court recommended long-term community control measures, along with requirements for counseling and community service.
The suspect must also surrender her teaching license and register on the offender tracking list as required by law.
The case continues to spark debate over school safety and supervisory responsibility in educational environments, especially following the California school shocker that left many parents concerned about the ethics of teaching staff.
