Redlands teacher who had child with student accused by former pupil

A former student has come forward to police alleging he had sex with a Redlands high school teacher arrested by authorities, who revealed her child was fathered by a student.

Laura Elizabeth Whitehurst, 28, was arrested Monday night on suspicion of having a nearly yearlong sexual relationship with a Citrus Valley High School student.

Whitehurst gave birth June 18 to a child, whose father is the victim, said Cmdr. Shawn Ryan of the Redlands Police Department.

But the troubles for the English teacher and advisor escalated after her arrest became public Tuesday. A man came forward to Redlands police alleging he had a sexual relationship with the teacher when he was a student, city spokesman Carl Baker said.

The man, now 22, told Redlands Daily Facts he had a sexual relationship with the teacher when he was a junior at the high school. He said he had written a class assignment about dreams, and after class the teacher told him she had a dream they had kissed.

In ensuing months, he alleges they had a sexual relationship at her home. In retrospect, he now believes he was taken advantage of morally but back then considered it “awesome.”

Law enforcement sources said Whitehurst has acknowledged knowing the second accuser beyond the classroom.

Redlands police initiated the investigation into Whitehurst after the mother of the boy who fathered her child reported the alleged relationship to school officials, who called Redlands police Monday.

Ryan said the sexual relationship between the boy and teacher began in the summer of 2012 and took place at her home. Whitehurst was arrested at 8:45 p.m. Monday.

Whitehurst was released from custody within a few hours after posting $25,000 bail. Whitehurst has not been charged yet.

The teacher was immediately placed on leave by the Redlands Unified School District.

Whitehurst, in addition to teaching English, was a club advisor and one-time assistant varsity soccer coach. According to records, she graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2006 and attended a master’s degree program at Redlands University.

She grew up in Redlands, where her father taught and was a top school official.

The investigation into Whitehurst is ongoing and authorities are asking anyone with additional information to contact Det. Natasha Crawford at (909) 798-7623

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