A Nebraska educator and her boyfriend were arrested and charged for allegedly grooming and sex trafficking a student.
Elizabeth Love, 36, was busted after the student told a school employee that she had ‘inappropriate interactions’ with the teacher at ESU-11 in Holdrege, Nebraska.
Her boyfriend, Jarid ‘Jack’ Krause, 41, was charged on one count of sex trafficking a minor.
‘The investigation into Ms. Love and Mr. Krause began after a current high school student, whom Ms. Love was instructing through her employment as a transition coordinator and teacher in ESU-11, reported inappropriate interactions with the couple over the past few weeks,’ the Holdrege Police said.
Love traveled to Nebraska for her position with Educational Service Unit 11 but was based in Holdrege, three hours West of Omaha.
A student at one of her schools reported an incident with the couple on October 14.
The current high schooler claimed she first overheard a phone conversation in August between Love and Krause in which Krause allegedly told Love he wanted to have sex with the student, according to The Independent.
Several months later on October 11, the report alleged that Love picked the girl up and brought the her to Love’s Holdrege home.
There, Krause reportedly led her upstairs to the bedroom and made a request of the student that she interpreted as sexual, according to the affidavit obtained by Nebraska TV.
Elizabeth Love, 36, was arrested and charged with sex trafficking and grooming by a school employee
Jarid Krause (left) and Love (right) will face up to lifetime in prison if they are convicted
The unnamed student declined his request and asked to leave, which Krause allowed her to do.
Authorities reviewed surveillance footage that allegedly showed Love following the female student in a black Dodge Durango. The girl told police she got in the car and Love drove her home.
The affidavit said Love apologized and told the student not to tell anyone before giving her $100 in $20 increments.
Love later claimed that the money was intended to be a gift for a new phone, not ‘hush money.’
According to Love’s Facebook page, she is a widow and mother of two.
In a post from ESU-11 earlier this year, the teacher described her love for her job.
‘I love working for ESU-11 because I am able to collaborate with incredible people who are dedicated to creating a difference in education.
‘I absolutely love partnering with schools to make a difference for students.’
A student alleged that Krause made a request that she thought was for sex
Holdrege Police do not think there are any other victims of the couple
Love worked for ESU-11 for multiple years, traveling to more than a dozen schools across south-central Nebraska. Per KSNB, the educator is now on administrative leave.
Krause and Love are each being held on a $250,000 bond at Phelps County jail with a court appearance set for October 27 at 10am.
If convicted, they face up to lifetime in prison and lifetime placement on the Nebraska sex-offender registry.
The investigation is ongoing. Police do not believe there to be any other victims at this time.
The Daily Mail reached out to ESU-11 and Holdrege Police for comment.
