A teacher from Pennsylvania is facing allegations of sending inappropriate photos to a 14-year-old student and engaging in suggestive online conversations that downplayed the minor’s age.

The accused, Ashley Autumn Mongell, allegedly insisted on the messages being temporary and humorously remarked about the age gap, as per documents obtained by WPXI. The Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crimes Unit initiated an investigation following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, revealing interactions between Mongell’s account and the student’s.

Reports indicate that explicit images were exchanged via Snapchat between the student and the teacher. Mongell, who confessed to having the student in her eighth-grade class at Connellsville Area Middle School last year, also admitted to sending a nude photo to the minor, discovered on the child’s phone.

The communication between Mongell and the student reportedly occurred through various platforms including Instagram, Snapchat, and mobile phones. Mongell has been charged with ‘Unlawful Contact with a Minor,’ a felony that could lead to a seven-year prison sentence, announced Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele.

Upon the public disclosure of the charges, Mongell was placed on administrative leave. The school district superintendent, Richard Evans, assured parents of the district’s seriousness in handling the matter and emphasized the safety of students as a top priority.

Mongell appeared in court, and she is currently detained in Fayette County Jail with a bail set at $40,000 (£29,300). Her next court appearance is scheduled for September 24.