Former Arkansas teacher pleads guilty to 'unlawful sexual activity' with a minor after 20-30 incidents

A former Bryant High School teacher has pleaded guilty to transporting a minor across state lines for unlawful sexual activity. The disgraced teacher had sex with a student 20-30 times.  

According to the Justice Department, Heather Hare, 33, of Conway, Arkansas, taught Family Consumer Science classes at Bryant High School and met the minor victim on the first day of his senior year. Hare began one-on-one counseling sessions with the minor victim, eventually giving him her personal phone number and primarily communicating with him through Instagram and Snapchat. 

Hare later told the victim she had dreams of them having sex and coerced the minor student into the abusive relationship. 

Hare gave him her home address in Conway, Arkansas. “The minor victim and Hare had sex approximately 20 to 30 times throughout the 2021-2022 school term, including multiple times at her Conway residence, in her vehicle, and in her classroom and parking lots at Bryant High School,” the Justice Department release stated. 

Between April 21 and April 24, 2022, Hare chaperoned a field trip to Washington D.C. with four students including the minor student. He was the only male student on the trip. Hare and the student engaged in unlawful sexual activity that she pleaded guilty to later.

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Jonathan D. Ross said, “This former teacher took advantage of her position of trust and the vulnerability of a minor, using her role to entice and lure this minor into engaging in unlawful sexual activity.” 

“Our office will continue to seek significant penalties against any educational professional who sexually abuse their students.” 

Hare was indicted on August 1, 2023, and charged with one count of interstate travel for prostitution/sexual activity by coercion as well as one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. With her guilty plea, the remaining charges were dismissed.  

United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky will sentence Hare at a later date. Transportation of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity is punishable by nothing less than 10 years in prison and up to a life sentence.