A Washington state teacher is facing serious criminal charges after being accused of repeatedly abusing a young student inside a school classroom.
Authorities say 32-year-old Mahayla Benavides, a special education teacher, has been charged with child rape and child molestation. She has pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
According to court documents, the alleged incidents involved a fourth-grade student and reportedly took place on multiple occasions within the school.
Investigators claim the child told detectives that the abuse occurred both in the main classroom and in a smaller adjoining room, raising immediate concern among officials.
The allegations suggest the incidents were not isolated, with claims that the encounters happened frequently over a period of time.
During the investigation, police reportedly searched the teacher’s phone and say they discovered disturbing evidence, including videos connected to the case.
Officials say the situation came to light after the school district was alerted, prompting swift action to remove the teacher from contact with students and involve law enforcement.
The accused was later arrested and is currently being held in jail, with a trial scheduled in the coming months as the case continues to unfold.
