A 42-year-old Liberty Elementary School District school intern was arrested and is facing sex crime charges related to conduct with a 17-year-old boy, an incident that occurred at their previous school, according to a letter from a southwest Valley school district to parents on Monday.

The Odyssey Institute for Advanced International Studies, a private high school in Buckeye, reported a tip in 2022 that then-teacher Jessica Kramer and an unidentified male student were in an inappropriate relationship.

According to Maricopa County investigators, detectives learned of the alleged abuse in August. Kramer later left OIAIS in October 2022 before becoming a Liberty intern. Based on the evidence provided, a Maricopa County grand jury indicted Kramer on several counts of sexual conduct with a minor.

Investigators arrested Kramer at her Buckeye home without incident Monday, officials said.

Liberty interim-superintendent Cort Monroe said the arrest  the intern passed a background test.

“As soon as we became aware earlier today, we took immediate action,” he said in a statement. “All applicants who work at LESD25 are subject to a thorough criminal background check, including a fingerprint screening prior to employment. We are committed to the safety of our students and expect all staff to adhere to the highest ethical practices and conduct. We do not tolerate behaviors that compromise the safety of our students and staff. If you see something, say something.”

Monroe said they are collaborating with Buckeye police. There is no information to indicate any children within the district were abused by the Kramer.

Previous Liberty case

The southwest Valley school district faced a similar case about five years ago. In 2018, police arrested Liberty Elementary School District teacher Brittany Zamora after she was accused of sexually assaulting one of her 13-year-old male students.

According to police, the parents of the victim came forward with text messages they found on the boy's phone. Later, the Goodyear student told investigators the two had sex in her car and class several times.

Zamora was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2019 on multiple sexual assault charges.

According to a lawsuit filed by the victim's parents, a school official sat on evidence of the inappropriate relationship for a month. Which, according to the parents, if they acted swiftly enough, may have prevented the sexual relationship.