Nebraska teacher charged with sexual abuse of student is wife of high-ranking US Defense official

It has been revealed that an Omaha, Nebraska substitute teacher who was caught having sex with a 17-year-old student is the wife of a high-ranking official in the federal government. Erin Ward, 45, is married to Doug Ward, who serves as deputy director of the Department of Defense's Commander's Action Group and Senior Nuclear Deterrence Advisor at the United States Strategic Command. 

Mrs. Ward admitted to having sex with the student in her family vehicle, however because the age of consent in the state is 16, she was only charged with felony sexual abuse by a school employee. Nonetheless, she could face up to 20 years in prison. 

According to the Daily Mail, Mrs. Ward and her 53-year-old husband have three children together, including a daughter who is around the same age as her victim, and have posted numerous photos together on social media. 

Aside from being a successful public servant, Mr. Ward has an impressive educational background. He has degrees from the University of Illinois, Bellevue University, and most recently, a master's in political science and government from the Harvard Extension School. He is also in the process of completing a doctorate in defense and strategic studies at Missouri State University. 

Mrs. Ward was caught with the student from Burke High School, where she taught, around 3am on April 13. When police responded to calls about a suspicious vehicle on a dead-end street, they discovered her and the boy in the back seat. 

The teen jumped into the driver's seat and drove a couple blocks before crashing. Wearing only his underwear and a shirt, he fled on foot, and was found a short time later. Ward was apprehended at the scene. 

Burke High Principal Darren Rasmussen told the community that "law enforcement has arrested a metro-area substitute teacher for inappropriate conduct with a minor." 

"The individual," he added, "worked at Burke High several days during the 2023-24 school year. They will not be returning to our school or any others in our district."