The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office was called to American Heritage Academy in Cottonwood Thursday morning to investigate an alleged sexual encounter between a teacher and student. After an investigation, the woman teacher was arrested and booked into the Yavapai County Jail.
The school administrator who had suspicions about the teacher, Leonard Miller, reported the incident to the YCSO after allegedly catching the teacher and student in a compromising situation.
The principal told sheriff's detectives that he initially attempted to enter the classroom of biology teacher Emili Kay Daniels, but the door was locked. After unlocking the door, the principal saw Daniels and a 17-year-old male student near the teacher's desk. The student's pants were undone, exposing his underwear. Both teacher and student initially denied there was any sexual activity.
Daniels and the student were separated and remained on campus for the arrival of sheriff's investigators. During the subsequent investigation Thursday and Friday, the student allegedly admitted that he was having a relationship with Daniels that started last October.
The student said that in November the relationship became sexual. He said at least three sexually-related incidents occurred in or around the classroom.
Detectives are now also reviewing text messages and e-mails related to the relationship.
Daniels is 34 years old and lives in Camp Verde.
As a result of the investigation, Daniels was arrested and booked at the Camp Verde Jail on three counts of sexual conduct with a minor.
Sheriff's investigators are asking anyone with additional information about Daniels or this situation may contact Detective Shonna Willingham at (928) 554-8714.
Posted: Sunday, April 18, 2010
Article comment by:
jessica grenfell
ok so this is all BS, i went to AHA, and the teachers and the other kids were great, now we are gonna get all crazy about some 17 year old kid wanting to get his rocks off? come on! hes 17 hello! he really doesn't care who its with as long as its a woman. hes not a victim, but the teacher, well yeah she should have known it was wrong, i mean its her student duh! i dated one of the teachers after the teacher wasn't needed anymore..is that a bad thing? am i a victim? no i'm not and neither is the boy. anyway i think you are all stupid for going ape all over this thing its not like the boy was 15, then yeah i can see a problem, oh and to the people correcting everyone's spelling errors..GROW UP!
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Article comment by:
AHA is safe
Okay so to all of you people who THINK you know what your talking about STOP! You have no clue. You have no right to hate AHA. SORRY that they were trying to keep your kids safe. You can try to tear 'em down but its rather difficult to tear something built out of solid stones.(that was a metaphor for all of those idiots who are attacking AHA) You guys dont KNOW Mrs. Daniels And to the SAFETY OF CHILDREN Person i think you need to be the first to shut your mouth because i am a student there, and i dont need YOU to protect me. All you are doing is tearing MY down by tearing my school and since i go there every day they are part of my life so you are also trying to tear my LIFE down! Wow that really sounds like a person who would protect me. I have Mr. miller and Mr. Anderson who protect me. I KNOW they would lay down their life for mine. So please i am asking you Stop tearing my school down i love them and can only pray for you. Please Please stop. You have no right to speak.
Posted: Saturday, April 25, 2009
Article comment by:
Cast first stone
SAFETY OF CHILDREN, just let me say this...YOU do not need to worry about the safety of MY children or protecting them in any way, shape or form. God does that by putting wonderful people like the staff of AHA (Mrs. Daniels, included) and Leonard Miller in our lives. Period! P.S. Let the those who are without sin cast the first stone.
Posted: Saturday, March 14, 2009
Article comment by:
More than Likely
This is is a small town, so she better get used to living life inside her house.. I do not think people will treat her nicely if she goes out in public. I think she will opt for a trial and try to put on a defense of there were mitigating circumstances as to why she behaved the she did. She will also more than likely try to discredit this young boy as well.
Posted: Friday, March 13, 2009
Article comment by:
My turn now
I hope this sex offender goes behind bars and is never let out. it's interesting to me that IF this person was a man teacher who had done this crime, would he be in jail without bond? Just wondering.
Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2009
Article comment by:
CHOOSE NOT CHOSE...
In defense of "THEY ARE RIGHT" he is probably trying to point out to you that you have used "CHOSE" not "CHOOSE" throughout your post!!! I think they taught that in about 3rd Grade if I remember correctly!
Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2009
Article comment by:
Thanks Grammar Nazi :)
Thanks GRAMMAR NAZI! I stand corrected. We can all use a little help now and then can't we?
Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2009
Article comment by:
Grammar Nazi
THEY ARE RIGHT!, you might want to proof your your own comments before you start criticizing other people for their grammar. The difference between "it's" and "its" is sometimes a little tricky. Here is a link that explains it: http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/its.html. Better luck next time :)
Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2009
Article comment by:
STILL WAITING FOR YOUR RESPONSE
I am still waiting for ANYONE to respond to the parent from AHA who's child was a VICTIM of a sexual predator at AHA several years ago??? Come on anyone??? Surely someone has something to say about this happening before on the same campus???? I am waiting!!!
Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2009
Article comment by:
Stepford Parents
Dear They Are Right, I will agree that if you do not like a school you have the right to move your child to another school. The problem with AHA in CV was that when problems arose rather than address them with parents and try to find resolution, they simply said if you don't like it LEAVE! I am sorry, that my dear is just wrong. We were told that the school was not "OUR SCHOOL" it was
"THEIR BUSINESS"... I am a proud active parent and I will always play a very active role in "MY CHILD'S SCHOOL" and to be told by administrators that we did not matter and that our concerns did not matter was and is unacceptable...it may be okay for you to be one of the stepford parents but those of us that ultimately left sought more for our children...
Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2009
Article comment by:
THEY ARE RIGHT!
THEY ARE RIGHT, What school did you attend? It might be a good idea to have someone proof your text next time as I have found several errors in your sentence structure and spelling. Better luck next time. :)
Additionally, it's a given that you can leave a school if you don't believe in it's teachings/ideas. I'm pretty sure that is why there are so many schools in Arizona. To have a charter holder tell parents those words is unprofessional at best.
Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2009
Article comment by:
They are right!
Since I don't like the Camp Verde Public Schools doesn't mean I have to go around spreading hatred for them. I just am not sending my children there. If I don't like where my student is attending school, then yes, I have the right to take them out and go somewhere else that might be a better fit for them. AHA has every right to say that if you don't like it there then you have the choice to leave. That's why America is so great... we have choices, and even more choices in Arizona since we have many schools to chose from. Christian schools are private, and hence can teach whatever they want, and the parents know what they are teaching since they are "Christian" schools, and want their children to learn a Christian perspective. I think those schools, along with charter schools are great, to add choice for parents who don't like the big public schools, and how much peer pressure goes on. I have never met someone in person who has said anything bad about the school. (Only you people online, which might just be some of the same people!) Everyone who has little ones my age are putting their children on waiting lists for kindergarten there! I am not saying that AHA is perfect, but overall, it's standards are much higher, and teachings go much deeper into the importance of values and morals,and leadership skills than many other schools. I am sure the Christian schools in the valley are the same way. That is why this whole situation is such a huge SHOCK for them. It goes against everything they stand for and teach. So they would never ever let something like that just pass through, or a person come into their school unless they know that those ideals are what that person emulates. Which in this case, she did emulate, up until this disturbing event, thats why it is such a shock. (She is/was a very religious Christian person, maybe she could have got a job teaching at a Christian school in the valley...)
Seriously though, they are completely right by saying, if your complaining about everything they try to do, then go somewhere else. I 100% agree. There are many schools to chose from, or homeschool if you are worried about your child getting into a relationship with their teacher, it will be the safest route. (especially if your child is 16 or 17, because they know FULL well what their doing if they do get into a relationship with a teacher). Look at all the other teachers this month who've been arrested in our state. It's everywhere.
There is no need to try and spread such hatred against the school as some of you are doing, it is quite immature.
Posted: Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Article comment by:
You Are Right
Actually, it speaks volumes that people would log onto a website JUST to vent their hatred for a school, The Truth Hurts. But you are probably right. Alot of people really don't like this school for different reasons. I know many people feel that this is just another incident from the school who has insensitive charter holders whose beliefs are: if you don't like the way we are doing things then LEAVE. You don't hear anyone bashing the local Christian Schools do you???
Posted: Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Article comment by:
The truth hurts.
SAFETY OF CHILDREN, are you seriously suggesting that the incident with Mrs. Daniels wouldn't have occured if AHA had only listened to you? What was this "safety issue" you're complaining about? How does it relate to the incident with Mrs. Daniels? I'd be willing to bet they are completely unrelated. The only reason you are posting is because this incident gives you a convenient excuse to vent your hatred of AHA.
Posted: Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Article comment by:
Not at all
It was only a matter of time before AHA would be in the news AGAIN....getting bad press AGAIN. That's the part that is justifiably poetic. A child being abused is certainly not the outcome anybody would want...and that may be the ONLY thing the two sides can agree on.
