Is Teacher Melinda Dennehy a Cougar or a Sex Offender?

High school teacher Melinda Dennehy, a 41-year-old English teacher, sent four revealing shots of herself to a 15-year-old student at Londonderry High School in New Hampshire. The student, in turn, sent the pictures on to his friends. The pictures were reported to have been sent two months ago. Eventually an adult saw the pictures at which time the police were notificed.

The young high school student said the teacher repeatedly sent him text messages. Some of these were quite explicit. The boy reported that the teacher also kissed him two different times in a school classroom. Although it was reported that the relationship went beyond the sexting and the kissing it was not clear if any sexual contact had taken place between the teacher and the student.

The teacher is a mother of two. She turned herself in to Londonderry police last Friday. Her charge is one felony count of indecent exposure. She has been bailed out although she has been ordered to stay away from anyone under the age of 16 years of age. Her arraignment is scheduled in Derry District Court on April 30.

The term ‘Cougars’ has become a popular subject during the last few years. This refers to an older woman and a younger man getting together. In this case, however, there is no ‘cougar case’ as this is considered child abuse.