Brentwood School Teacher Charged With Sex With Student

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA – A 45-year-old biology teacher at the exclusive Brentwood School was charged Friday with having sex with a 16-year-old student.

Aimee Palmitessa, who was arrested last month and released on $230,000 bail, is expected to be arraigned sometime Friday on a dozen felony charges, including seven counts of unlawful sexual intercourse.

She was also charged with two counts each of sodomy and sexual penetration by foreign object of a person under 18, and a single count of oral copulation of a person under 18.

Palmitessa was placed on administrative leave following her arrest, according to the school.

"We were shocked and distressed to receive the news of these allegations. As always, our primary concern is the safety, health and well- being of our students. To that end we will do everything we can to cooperate with the official police investigation," according to Head of School Mike Riera.

Brentwood School is an elite K-12 coed school.

According to prosecutors, the 16-year-old boy was once one of Palmitessa's students. She is accused of having sex with the teen on multiple occasions between June 12 and Aug. 11, prosecutors said. She was arrested after the teen told authorities, prosecutors said.

The teacher faces up to 10 years and four months in prison if convicted.

Palmitessa is also facing a drug charge in Riverside County for allegedly possessing ecstasy at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in April.

• ALSO SEE: 1 Killed In 4-Car Wreck On The 5 Freeway

--City News Service/Shutterstock image