A 28-year-old high school English teacher from Texas is accused of having sex with five of her male students, according to ABC News. This week, graphic video evidence shot on a cellphone, which shows teacher Brittni Colleps engaging in sexual activity with four of her students, was shown to jurors. The alleged affairs took place while her husband, who is an Army specialist stationed out-of-state, and children were away.
"She [Colleps] said that she craved, that I had something that she wanted," one of the students involved testified.
Police say the alleged incident took place at her Arlington, Texas home in April and May of 2011, according to ABC News affiliate WFAA. Because all of the students involved were 18 at the time of the alleged incident, Colleps is not facing statutory rape charges. Instead, she has been charged with five counts of having an improper relationship with a student.
One student told WFAA that one of the teenage boys was bragging about the alleged incident and another student put the claim in her diary. A teacher at the school found the diary in a classroom and that's when the school notified police.
Some of the students, who were attending Kennendale High School, took the stand on Tuesday but were not identified because of their ages and the nature of the crime, according to WFAA.
One of those students said his relationship began with an innocent text message. "Hey... It's Coach Colleps. Do you know what time the baseball game starts?"
Soon after that the student says that he and Colleps were exchanging almost 100 texts a day. The prosecutor says that the relationship progressed into explicit text messages and then an agreement to meet for sex.
One of the young men she is accused of sleeping with has publicly stated that she didn't commit a crime. Of the five students identified thus far, four of them were members of the school's football team.
Colleps' husband, Christopher, is sticking by his wife despite the lurid accusations.
"If you know Brittni, you know she's an empathetic loving, loyal person. Brittni is a loving mother and continuously puts the needs of our children above her own," Christopher Colleps said before the trial began.
"I want you to know I love my wife. I have loved my wife since the moment I laid eyes on her over 11 years ago," he added. "I have always supported my wife, and I will continue to support my wife through this whole, entire ordeal."
Brittni Colleps was suspended by the school district and her contract was not renewed this year, so she is unemployed during the trial.
"She's terrified ... she has no idea whether she is going to prison next week or whether she will be home," her attorney said.
If Colleps is convicted, she could spend up to 20 years in prison.