A Milwaukee woman is facing felony charges after authorities say she allegedly pulled off a bizarre stunt at a local high school â showing up and posing as a substitute teacher despite allegedly having no job or training as an educator.
According to a criminal complaint cited by Milwaukee-area news outlets, 23-year-old Amy Jones allegedly entered Rufus King International High School on September 24 and presented herself as a substitute teacher.
What happened inside the school quickly turned into a police investigation after students reportedly accused Jones of making a series of inappropriate and disturbing comments while she was allegedly pretending to be a teacher.
Authorities say Jones was able to sign in at the school’s front office and was placed inside classrooms because multiple teachers were absent.
But according to the complaint, once an actual teacher left one of the classrooms, Jones allegedly began interacting with students in a way that raised serious concerns.
Students reportedly told investigators that Jones made profane, racial and sexually inappropriate comments.
Among the allegations, Jones reportedly asked students questions about whether they were gay and whether they were virgins. She is also accused of allegedly asking one student whether she wanted to become a stripper or a hooker.
Some students reportedly recorded portions of the interaction on their phones.
Those videos later became part of the investigation, according to authorities.
The situation eventually caught the attention of school officials, and Jones was escorted from the building.
Police later interviewed Jones as they investigated how she managed to enter the school and interact with students while allegedly pretending to be a substitute teacher.
According to the criminal complaint, Jones allegedly admitted to investigators that she was not actually a substitute teacher and did not have training or experience working as one.
Authorities say Jones told investigators she went to the school because she was bored and wanted to “fâ around.”
The allegations have resulted in six felony charges against Jones.
She is accused of one count of impersonating a public employee and five counts involving exposing a child to harmful descriptions.
If convicted on all of the charges, Jones could face a maximum sentence of 21 years behind bars, according to Milwaukee-area reports.
The case took another step forward on October 6, when Jones appeared in court.
A $5,000 signature bond was reportedly set, and a no-contact order was issued involving the school and several students. Jones’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 20.
The case has also raised questions about how Jones was able to enter the school and allegedly obtain access to classrooms in the first place.
According to the allegations, Jones did not simply walk into the building and remain in a hallway. Authorities say she was able to sign in and was placed in classrooms during a school day when substitute coverage was needed.
For students who were inside those classrooms, the situation reportedly became especially uncomfortable once the alleged inappropriate comments began.
The videos reportedly provided investigators with additional evidence as they worked to determine exactly what happened inside the school.
Still, it is important to remember that Jones has been accused of these offenses and has not been convicted. The charges and allegations contained in a criminal complaint are not proof of guilt, and Jones is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Her preliminary hearing on October 20 is expected to provide another major development in the case as prosecutors move forward with the charges.
For parents, students and school officials, the incident is likely to raise an uncomfortable question: How did someone allegedly posing as a substitute teacher get into a classroom with students in the first place?
Video Credit: Wisconsin News – WISN Channel 12
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