A newly released interrogation video shows an Indiana school secretary weeping as she confesses to engaging in a sexual relationship with a teenage student — a relationship her husband discovered firsthand on Valentine’s Day.
Alicia Hughes, 31, a secretary at Randolph Eastern School Corporation, was recorded by police breaking into tears as she described her encounters with an 18-year-old student.
Hughes’ husband discovered her in bed with the student on Valentine’s Day, prompting her to call police herself, alleging he attacked her upon making the discovery.
Whether he faces any charges in connection with that incident remains unclear.
In the footage, Hughes tells investigators that “the physical thing … has been going on since the end of January.”
She describes the encounter captured by her husband as “the third time” she had been with the student.
Hughes repeatedly stressed during the interrogation that her encounters with the 18-year-old did not occur “before he was 18.”
The interrogation video was made public on a Saturday, just days after Hughes’ husband filed for divorce and sought emergency custody of the couple’s three children, according to Law&Crime.
Hours before Hughes was questioned on camera, a 17-year-old male student came forward claiming he had also engaged in sexual activity with Hughes on at least five separate occasions.
Court documents indicate the encounters began in a car outside a Dollar General store.
During questioning, the interviewing officer asked Hughes directly whether she was certain she had not had sexual contact with any other students.
Hughes initially denied any such contact with the younger accuser.
Hughes subsequently admitted to meeting the 17-year-old at the Dollar General location and acknowledged sending him photographs.
She denied characterizing the interactions as an “affair” and insisted, “I never slept with him,” referring to the younger accuser.
Shortly after that denial, Hughes requested an attorney, at which point the recorded interrogation concluded.
The video’s final moments show Hughes being handcuffed and visibly uncomfortable as she was taken into custody on five counts of child seduction.
Each of the five charges carries a potential sentence of up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, meaning Hughes could face a maximum of 30 years behind bars and $50,000 in fines if convicted on all counts.
During the interrogation, Hughes told the officer that while her conduct was not “justified,” she had suffered physical and mental abuse at the hands of her husband.
“And that’s where I’m at. And now I’m here,” she said.
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Hughes was booked into the Randolph County Jail on a $25,000 bond following her arrest, according to media reports.
The Randolph Eastern School Corporation subsequently suspended her from her position.
Superintendent Neal Adams stated that Hughes “has been removed from all duties with students pending the outcome of the legal process,” the New York Post previously reported.
