A Spring ISD theater teacher has found herself on the wrong side of the law, facing charges for an alleged sexual relationship with a student, authorities confirmed. Valerie Lauren Mata, 26, who taught at Dekaney High School, was arrested after a probe into the matter revealed a series of incriminating text messages.

According to Click2Houston, police documented that the relationship started with friendly "hellos" and escalated to terms like "baby" and "sweetheart." The student, a then-sophomore, was invited by Mata to join her theater class. Entering his junior year, the student alleged that he received a text from Mata claiming she was 'tipsy' and inquired if he was interested in sex.

It wasn't long before the situation deteriorated, with the pair reportedly exchanging explicit photos and videos by the student's senior year. Mata supposedly instructed the student to erase the conversations and disguise her contact information. "Does it make a difference it [sic] he is 18?" Mata reportedly said when faced with the allegations, as mentioned in her confrontation with Spring ISD police detectives. She resigned on March 18 amid the emerging scandal.

The incident between Mata and the student came to light when the parents of a student's friend became aware and notified the school, according to ABC13. The subsequent investigation by the Spring ISD Police Department and the district's human resources led to her arrest following a felony warrant issued by the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

Spring ISD publicly addressed the controversy, stating, "Over the Spring Break holiday, we were made aware of a report of inappropriate conduct between a Dekaney High School staff member and a student. Immediately upon returning on Monday, March 18, a conference was held with the staff member, and she subsequently resigned effective that same day."