Felony Charge Against Teacher Accused of Sexting With Student Dropped

A felony charge against a teacher accused of exchanging sexually explicit text messages with a student was dropped, but a misdemeanor charge remains.

Broadneck High School teacher Erin Thorne turned herself in to Anne Arundel County police in March.

Thorne and a student who graduated in 2011 developed a friendship in the fall of that student’s senior year, police said. During the fall semester, Thorne began sending sexually explicit text messages to the student, and they began talking regularly on the phone.

At the teacher’s request, she and the student continued exchanging sexually explicit messages and images while the student was still a minor, police said. The investigation revealed the student engaged in sexual activity with Thorne after turning 18.

A felony solicitiation charge was dropped Friday during the ongoing state investigation. Thorne remains charged with a misdemeanor count of displaying obscene matter to a minor.

The school system placed Thorne on administrative leave.