Former teacher charged with having sex with minor

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) - The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department charged a former teacher Thursday with unlawful sexual acts with a minor and interfering with the custody of a minor. Amanda Cooney allegedly fled the county with a 16-year-old former student. The pair was found in an Ohio motel room.

According to Investigator Ralph Garrett, Amanda Leigh Cooney, 25, got involved with a former student during the 2010-2011 school year and the two began having sex in the summer of 2011 at her home.

The 16-year-old ran away from home and moved in with Cooney in October 2011. Garrett said Cooney knew the victim's age but discussed having children with him.

Around the first of November, the sheriff's department says Cooney and the boy fled to Ohio where the pair were found in a motel room.

Cooney was served with warrants Thursday at the Okaloosa County Jail where she was being held on other charges.

Cooney was charged by the Crestview Police Department with car burglary, petty theft, forgery and fraudulent use of a credit card.