A former Columbus high-school teacher has admitted to amended sex-crime charges this year after court records say she had sexual contact with a 15-year-old student. The teacher, 28-year-old Jamelah Daboubi, was originally accused after police said she was found in a car with the student during spring break. The plea follows months of pretrial wrangling and public scrutiny in a case that began last spring when a relative discovered the pair. Sentencing has been delayed while the court weighs the terms of the deal.
Plea and court terms
According to WBNS, Daboubi pleaded guilty in February to amended counts of gross sexual imposition and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. As part of the agreement, the outlet reports, she must register as a tier II sex offender, and the court has recommended five years of community control, ongoing counseling, surrender of her teaching license, and community service. The amended counts carry a maximum possible sentence of 18 months in prison, and the scheduled sentencing hearing was continued.
How investigators say it began
In a press release from the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office, officials said police were called to a home on Salado Creek Drive on April 2, 2025, after a woman reported finding her 15-year-old nephew and one of his teachers in the teacher's car. Prosecutors say the teen told investigators the relationship involved kissing and touching, and a forensic interview the following day backed up parts of his account. The release also states that officers seized the teen's phone and found "hundreds of phone calls and thousands of texts" between the student and Daboubi.
School and arrest
The school said Daboubi was immediately placed on administrative leave and is no longer employed at Horizon Science Academy, according to WLWT. The station reported that Daboubi was arrested in May 2025 and held on a $15,000 bond after investigators reviewed phone records and conducted interviews. The case was later presented to a grand jury before Daboubi entered her guilty plea this year.
Legal implications
The amended counts carry a combined maximum of 18 months behind bars, but the plea agreement pushes the case toward community control and supervision instead of immediate prison time, WBNS reported. Under Ohio law, tier II sex-offender registration requires periodic check-ins and notification and can restrict certain jobs and housing options, while surrendering her teaching license effectively ends her ability to work as a teacher in the state. The judge will decide whether to accept the recommendations outlined in the plea when sentencing is rescheduled.
What’s next
The Franklin County Common Pleas Court has not yet set a new sentencing date. The case remains on the public docket as prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the court prepare for the next hearing.
