Teacher Threatens To Fail Student For Trying To End Sexual Affair

A Connecticut high school teacher threatened to fail one of her male students she was sleeping with because he wanted to end the relationship, according to police.

Danielle Watkins, a 32-year-old English teacher at Stamford High School, allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student from September 2013 until this June, PIX 11 reported. Watkins also sent naked pictures to the teen and gave her students weed, Stamford police said.

When the student, whose name was not released, tried to break up with Watkins she "used her position as a teacher to threaten to fail the victim if the encounters did not continue," police said according to the station.

Watkins, who is married with two kids, turned herself over to the authorities on Thursday. She faces two counts of second-degree sexual assault along with two counts of selling marijuana and one count of risk of injury to a minor.

The sexual encounters took place in Watkins' car during school hours, but the car was parked off school grounds, the victim told police.

During their investigation police found over 2,000 text messages and the naked pictures Watkins sent to the 18-year-old. The teacher also allowed the victim to drive around in her car without a license, police said according to NBC Connecticut.

The victim said Watkins attacked him and accused him of cheating on her when he tried to end the affair. But it was when Watkins threatened to fail him that the victim told his counselor about the relationship in June. The student needed to pass the class to graduate, according to NBC Connecticut.

"We are aware of the allegations. We take these issues very seriously and always act to protect the welfare of our students," Stamford Superintendent Winifred Hamilton said in a statement. "We will continue to cooperate with the police and other authorities on this matter."

Watkins has since been placed on administrative leave. She is scheduled to appear in court on July 31, PIX 11 reported.