ELLICOTT, COLO. -- An Ellicott School District board member has been arrested for allegedly sexting a 14-year-old boy.
Thirty-seven-year-old Stefanie Dickinson was arrested Sunday for Internet Luring of a Child, a class four felony.
Dickinson is one of five board members with Ellicott School District 22 in eastern El Paso County.
She is currently the board's treasurer.
According to Dickinson's arrest affidavit, the 14-year-old boy, who attends Ellicott High School, allegedly began receiving text messages from Dickinson sometime in August after returning from a trip with her and her family to Lake Meridith in Ordway.
Those who live in and near Ellicott said the allegations are unsettling.
"I was absolutely shocked, this is beyond belief that this would go on," Ermest Hudson said.
Hudson's daughter is a junior at Ellicott High School.
He said the allegations are damaging to everyone involved.
"It hurts the community, it hurts the school, it hurts the students, this is just beyond belief," Hudson said.
According to the arrest affidavit, the boy's sister found the texts while he was at football practice.
It said many of them are "sexual in nature" and reference "oral sex" among other things.
One reads "I will work on not being scared so something can happen," while another says "You can't tell anyone about this at all because I could lose my family."
"Obviously the first thing that comes to mind is what is the whole story here, I mean this is a little troubling," community member Gary Downing said. "I think the fact that it is happening more speaks to a much bigger issue that is a societal problem."
The school district said they are aware of the allegations, but are not required to take action because Dickinson is an elected official, not an employee of D-22.
Several community members and parents, including Hudson, have been working to recall Dickinson and one other board member for some time now.
They said they are unhappy with the district's test scores and budgeting.
We went to Dickinson's home to talk with her, but had no luck.
The 4th Judicial District Attorney's office said she has not been officially charged.
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