Bond set for substitute teacher allegedly caught undressed in car with teenage student

A substitute teacher with Omaha Public Schools is facing felony sexual abuse charges. Source: WOWT
Published: Apr. 16, 2024 at 1:39 PM EDT

ELKHORN, Neb. (WOWT/Gray News) - Bond conditions have been set for Erin Ward, the substitute teacher accused of being caught undressed with a teenage student.

Her bond was set at $25,000, according to WOWT.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Ward is still in jail; however, if she bonds out, she is forbidden to contact the teen or any other minor.

Ward was formally charged with sexual abuse by a school employee. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison.

Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies responded early Saturday morning to a call regarding a suspicious vehicle parked on a dead-end road in a neighborhood, WOWT reported.

When deputies arrived, they found Ward and a 17-year-old boy in the backseat.

Authorities said the teen jumped in the driver’s seat and attempted to flee from deputies before crashing.

After crashing the car, deputies saw the teen running from the driver’s seat without any clothes on. However, he was found more than an hour later in a nearby neighborhood wearing only underwear and a T-shirt.

She allegedly told authorities that she was a substitute teacher at Burke High School and other schools.

Deputies determined that the vehicle belonged to Ward and her spouse.

As of now, the court has sealed the affidavit.

Ward’s preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 22.