Norm Hodge, a teacher at LaFayette High School and a former LaFayette city council member, has been arrested for an having inappropriate sexual relationship with a student.

This is Hodge’s second serious brush with the law since 2008.

Hodge was arrested Friday on two felony counts of sexual assault by an authority figure, Walker County sheriff Steve Wilson said Monday.

Two sexual encounters allegedly occurred with a 17-year-old LaFayette High student in December on private property, Wilson said. Neither incident occurred on school property. Wilson said he is not releasing specifics on the location.

“There were several pieces of evidence that led to the allegation and then to the arrest,” Wilson said.

The sheriff’s department was summoned to LaFayette High School Friday evening as a result of the school system’s internal investigation, which concluded that Hodge had committed a crime.

Wilson would not say if Hodge confessed to the allegations, but stated it will be an “open and ongoing investigation.” The student and her parents will be interviewed soon, he said.

Hodge was arrested at the school administrator’s office around 8 p.m. and released from jail on a $5,000 bond.

Charges carry a one- to 25-year jail sentence and/or a fine up to $100,000.

The matter is considered a “very serious infraction” by the Georgia Profession Standards Commission, according to Paul Shaw, director of educator ethics at the commission.

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