A Wayne County High School science teacher is facing serious criminal charges after investigators say she had sexual contact with a student on multiple occasions. Courtney Williams Shaver, 24, was arrested Friday at her Jesup home and booked into the Wayne County Jail in connection with alleged encounters involving a 17-year-old male student. The arrest follows a months-long investigation that began earlier this year, when school officials pulled her from the classroom; she later resigned from her position.
According to The Georgia Sun, Shaver faces two counts of “Improper Sexual Contact by Employee, Agent, or Foster Parent” and was taken into custody without incident. Investigators told the outlet there is no indication the alleged contact occurred on school property. Jesup Police first referred the allegations to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Jan. 9. The Wayne County School System placed Shaver on administrative leave when the investigation began, and she is no longer employed as a teacher. Authorities say the case remains open.
GBI Confirmed The Probe
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed to WTOC that Jesup police asked the agency in January to investigate the allegations involving the teacher and student. Officials told the station at the time they could not release identifying details while the inquiry was active. Friday’s arrest came after weeks of coordination between local authorities and state investigators.
What The Charge Means Under Georgia Law
Under Georgia law, sexual contact between school employees and students is explicitly criminal, and a student’s consent cannot be used as a defense. The offense is set out in O.C.G.A. § 16-6-5.1, which defines improper sexual contact by an employee or agent and details potential penalties, including prison time and fines. For the full statutory language, see Justia.
Next Steps
The case file will be turned over to the Brunswick Judicial Circuit district attorney’s office for a decision on prosecution, The Georgia Sun reported. Investigators say the probe is still active. Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI Kingsland regional office at 912-729-6198 or submit an anonymous tip through the agency’s online portal at gbi.georgia.gov.
