Yucaipa Spanish Teacher, 44, Accused of Sexual Relationship With Student, 16

A 44-year-old local Spanish teacher has been arrested, accused of having an "inappropriate relationship" with a teenage student, police announced Friday.

Sheila Roostai Heacock has been a Spanish teacher at Yucaipa High School for the last three years, and has worked for the Yucaipa/Calimesa School District for 18, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Sgt. Roberto Lomeli.

According to the sergeant, Roostai began sexually abusing the 16-year-old boy in question in January and the last known incident was in March.

Authorities didn't specify how they learned of the suspected assaults, other than saying they "received information of a possible inappropriate relationship."

"On Thursday, April 17, 2014 detectives from the Crimes Against Children Detail, and personnel from the Yucaipa Sheriff’s Station contacted the 16-year-old male, who disclosed sexual abuse by Heacock," Lomeli said.

Heacock was arrested Thursday night on charges of oral copulation with a minor, penetration of a foreign object with a minor, communicating with a minor to commit an offense and unlawful sexual intercourse, according to Lomeli.

The school district released the following statement to Patch:

"The Yucaipa Calimesa Joint Unified School District is fully cooperating with local law enforcement regarding their investigation of this matter.  First and foremost, students' safety and well-being remain our primary concern.  Our heart goes out to the victim and family during this difficult time."

The teacher has been placed on administrative leave, according to the district's Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Melissa Moore.

Heacock was booked into the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino, but was released on bail Friday, according to jail records.  Sgt. Lomeli said her bail had been set at $100,000.

She is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.