J.L. Mann Teacher Charged with Sexual Battery Against Student

The Greenville County Sheriff's Office has charged a former J.L. Mann High teacher with sexual battery against a student, just a day after she was arrested by city police on obscenity charges.

The GCSO said Friday morning that Michelle Stabach Jensen, 40, of 605 Neely Farm Drive, Simpsonville, has been charged with one count each of sexual battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor after she allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old male student.

According to arrest warrants, the alleged victim stated Jensen touched the student's penis with her hand. In addition, the warrant alleged, Jensen allowed the student to touch her breast and penetrate her with his finger.

According to Greenville Police spokesman Johnathan Bragg, the 17-year-old student is one of two male students who allegedly received lewd texts and photos from Jensen, who was in her first year as a teacher at the high school before resigning last week when allegations against her first surfaced.

City police yesterday charged Jensen with two counts each of unlawful dissemination of obscene materials to persons under 18 years of age, and delinquency of a minor. Both charges are felonies.

Greenville police arrest warrants alleged that Jensen “sent text messages and photographs of herself to a … male student of hers at J.L. Mann High School. The text messages and photographs were sexually explicit in nature.”

Greenville County Schools spokesman Oby Lyles said J.L. Mann Principal Charles Mayfield was informed on Friday, Nov. 9 of allegations of inappropriate texts to students after a teacher reported an alleged conversation overheard between students.  

"The administration immediately began its investigation and contacted the school’s Resource Office with the Greenville City Police," Lyles said via email Thursday. "The principal met with the teacher that day and she resigned while the investigation continued. The charges will be communicated to the State Department of Education, which determines revocation of teaching certificates." 

This is Jensen’s first year with Greenville County Schools. She has been employed since Aug. 15 as a science teacher at the school, initially as a certified sub and then as a full-time teacher effective Oct. 15, Lyles added.

Jensen was being held Friday at the Greenville County Detention Center on $13,000 bond, authorities said.