A 28-year-old former Ohio teacher has pleaded guilty to engaging in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student at Horizon Science Academy in Columbus. Jamelah Daboubi entered the plea in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, admitting to gross sexual imposition and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

The case began in April 2025 when the student’s aunt discovered the pair in Daboubi’s car and alerted authorities. Subsequent investigation revealed months of sexual contact and extensive communication between the teacher and her student, including hundreds of phone calls and thousands of text messages in which the two expressed mutual affection.

Following her arrest, Daboubi was terminated from her teaching position. The sentencing hearing, initially scheduled for Friday, has been postponed to a later date. Under Ohio law, the charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 18 months. The court has recommended five years of community control, continued counseling, surrender of her teaching license, community service, and mandatory registration as a sex offender.

Experts note that while female educators are less frequently involved in sexual misconduct cases than male educators, who account for roughly 89 percent of reported incidents, both forms of misconduct have drawn increasing attention nationwide over the past two decades. Daboubi’s case highlights ongoing concerns about student safety and oversight within schools.