Teacher and cheerleading coach 'had sex with three students and then tried to commit suicide by driving off a cliff'
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Charged: Michelle Preston, 28, had sex with three students at her school aged 16 and 17
A high school teacher and cheerleading coach faces up to 30 years in jail after she was accused of having sex with three students.
Michelle Preston, 27, of Shawnee Mission West High School, Kansas, was charged with three counts of having unlawful sexual relations between September and December 2010.
Naked photos of Preston - who taught psychology and geography as well as freshman cheerleading - were said to have been circulated by the students after the details of the affairs emerged.
Though the sex between the students was consensual and they were not underage, District Attorney Steve Howe said the married teacher violated the trust of her students even if the relationship was consensual and they were legally of age.
'That's why we developed this statute because of the power differential between a teacher and a student,' Mr Howe told KCTV5. 'That is the reason for the statute to cover ages 16 to 18 years old when they are still students and have unlawful sex with a teacher.'
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ShareWhen Preston was placed on administrative leave in March and the criminal inquiry began, she was involved in a serious car accident after she allegedly tried to drive her SUV off a cliff in Miami County.
Home: Police searched Preston's home after obtaining a warrant when they were told about the allegations
Dismissed: Preston taught geography and psychology at Shawnee Mission West High School and was the cheerleading coach
She suffered serious injuries after her car vaulted off an embankment coming to rest under a bridge. It was only due to the SUV's On-Star system calling emergency dispatchers that she was located.
Once she came out of hospital she was arrested and released on bond. She faces a court appearance next week.
Students at the school said that the supposed naked pictures of Preston circulated around the school quickly but are unsure whether or not they are fake.
District Attorney: Steve Howe said Preston violated the trust of her students even if the relationship was consensual and they were not underage
Max Price told Fox4KC that he was sent the pictures on his cellphone more than once but deleted them every time.
He said: 'It's going around real fast. She drove off a cliff, I guess, trying to kill herself, so nothing good is coming out of this,.
'I heard she was a good teacher, she made the class very interesting.'
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