A Tuscaloosa City Schools teacher was arrested Friday night for allegedly having sex with a juvenile student.

According to a deposition obtained by the Tuscaloosa Thread, the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit responded to the parking lot of a local middle school on a sexual assault call around 9 p.m.

To protect the identity of the student, the Thread will not identify the school by name in this report.

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The deposition stated officers with the Tuscaloosa Police Department made contact with 31-year-old Arthur Clark and a juvenile student. The two allegedly admitted to "consensual intercourse," according to the charging documents.

Upon further questioning, officers learned that Clark is a teacher at STARS Academy and the victim was a student in the Tuscaloosa City Schools system.

In Alabama, it is illegal for a school employee to engage in any sexual activity with a juvenile student, even in "consensual" relationships.

Clark was arrested and charged with second-degree rape and with violating the law prohibiting a school employee from engaging in a sexual act with a student under the age of 19, both of which are Class B felonies.

Clark was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail on a combined $30,000 bond. Jail records did not list the suspect as an inmate as of Monday morning, indicating he may have been released.

Lydia Avant, the public relations director for the school system, confirmed to the Thread that Clark was placed on leave after his arrest.

"The Tuscaloosa Police Department alerted the Tuscaloosa City Schools of a teacher having been arrested on a rape charge Friday night for engaging in a sex act with a student," Avant said. "TCS does not condone this kind of behavior and is actively working with TPD as part of the investigation. Due to the sensitive nature of this investigation, TCS is limited in its response but can confirm the individual has been placed on leave."

"Anyone with knowledge of incidents like this is asked to contact either TPD or a school administrator. TCS has resources available for students who are in need of support at this time," Avant said.

Stay connected with the Tuscaloosa Thread for updates on this story as they become available.

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