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WILMINGTON – A former teacher stood before a New Hanover County judge Tuesday after she was charged with taking indecent liberties with a minor.

Jessica Wishnask

District Attorney Ben David said any sexual offense involving a child is taken seriously.

"We have a bright line in the sand in North Carolina," David said. "If someone is under the age of 16, they are not old enough to give consent to say yes to sexual activity under any circumstances."

Detectives and the district attorney are working to determine if the boy was a former student of Wishnask. It is unclear at this time.

"Someone who occupies a position of trust and confidence as it relates to juveniles has a special duty to make sure that they are not harmed," said David.

Most recently, Wishnask taught language arts to eighth graders in Pitt County. She resigned on Monday.

New Hanover County School District administrators said Wishnask taught language arts to seventh graders at Williston Middle School in Wilmington last semester. The district suspended her twice during her two years there.

"The former teacher in question was suspended two times. She was suspended in October of 2008 and again in November of 2008 and she resigned in December," said Valita Quattlebaum, with New Hanover County Schools.

The district would not elaborate on the reason for the suspensions, but they said Wishnask passed a thorough background check. Now the school district is reviewing its procedures.

"These allegations are serious. They concern us," explained Dr. John Welmers Jr., the assistant superintendent for human resources. "We hate that a student was involved. So it is making us look at what we do, how we do it and those sorts of things as we work with teachers."

Wishnask also taught in Duplin County Schools before coming to New Hanover County.

Wishnask's next court date is June 11.