Community 'shocked' by teacher's arrest

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Many people in Semmes said they were shocked by the arrest of Mary G. Montgomery High School teacher Alicia Gray . Gray is accused of having inappropriate sexual relations with a 14-year-old student.

A lot of people who live there either went to MGM, or they have children at the school now.   

When FOX10 News broke the of the MGM’s teacher’s arrest, many in Semmes were watching.

"It's just mixed emotions," said MGM Alumni Terri Allen.

Matt Boykin had a different reaction.

"I don't believe it," Boykin said.

Boykin is a former student of Gray’s and a family friend.

"A lot of kids don’t like her because she is strict. Like, if you’re out of uniform, she sends you to the principal. It's not like one of those teachers where you would suspect it because she was so close with students," Boykin said.

Allyson Whitmer is also an MGM graduate. She said she is worried this arrest will hurt the school’s reputation.

"MGM offers a lot for kids, but now it's just kind of sad. Parents are going to reconsider the school," Whitmer said.

Others said they are reserving judgment.

"I don’t know the person involved. I don’t know what happened; only what we heard. And I think somebody would have to prove to me, it actually happened," said one Semmes resident.

Allen said this is a lose-lose for everyone involved.

"I feel for the teacher, because that's her future. And I feel for the young man, because this is going to be over him all his life. It really bothers me that something like that, whether they are guilty or innocent, something like this would happen,” Allen said.