(Memphis) He was an award-winning math teacher at Kirby High School, now Justin Bolden could soon be a prison inmate.
He’s accused of having sex with a 17-year-old student.
Police say in October, he asked the teen for her phone number and started texting her and then in December, they say, he brought her back to his Germantown apartment where they had sex.
Police say the victim’s cell phone records show that Bolden pursued the student since last year.
“It’s just pitiful. It’s sad,” said Memphis Resident Kani Johnson.
Memphis parents say if the allegations are true, Bolden, as an authority figure, has no excuse for his behavior.
“I really think that teachers should respect that these our children,” said Memphis Mom Stephanie Patton.
And it seems Bolden had a bright future as a math teacher.
Last year, he won a “Golden Apple Teaching Award,” where a student nominated him and said, “Mr. Bolden’s class isn’t just a regular class; it’s a class of scholars as he tells us! He motivates us to achieve and do our best.”
And on Bolden’s own Facebook page, he describes himself as a “good man”, saying “they are not many of those around”.
But it could be a lack of good judgement, that police say has now gotten him out of a job, and into trouble with the law.
“It doesn`t matter how many awards you have, it`s still wrong to get involved with students,” said Patton.
Memphis City Schools say it conducted their own investigation and suspended Boldren without pay on April 19. Eleven days later MCS says Bolden resigned.
Bolden is charged with statutory rape by an authority figure, which is a class c felony.
It means probation will not be an option. He could face up to six years in prison.