A Jefferson County Grand Jury says there is enough evidence to try a former Memorial High School employee for a sex crime.
57-year-old Jean Hardy will have to answer to charges of improper relationship between an educator and student.
Hardy was an employee at Memorial High School when she was arrested Jan. 8.
An affidavit shows police accusing her of performing a sex act with a student in a parked car near the Port Arthur seawall.
Up until she was arrested, Hardy worked for the school in the registration department.
One former student, Alyshia Francis, says she's in disbelief that hardy had a sexual relationship with a student.
Not only has Francis lived next to Hardy for 15 years, she saw her every day at school.
"We all confided in her. All the students loved her."
Francis, a 2003 Memorial High School graduate, says she can't believe the 57-year-old mother of two was indicted on a charge of improper relationship between an educator and student.
"It just wasn't miss Hardy. She wasn't that kind of person when I was in school, when I knew her. She was always a nice person and always there for all the students."
Police say they caught her in a parked car at the seawall with one of those students, a 17-year-old, engaged in sexual activity.
The affidavit states the car was suspicious due to complaints that people performed sexual acts near the area.
Not surprising to Annie Stephenson who lives near the seawall.
"People go out, they do their little thing and sit on the rocks and stuff. Even sometimes me and my grand babies go up there, and people are on the bottom smoking weed," says Stephenson.
12 News HD went to Hardy's home. Her husband says she has no comment about the accusations.
But for those who knew her like Francis, they hope the charges aren't true.
"I still can't wrap my head around it," says Francis.
A trial date has not yet been set for Hardy.
If she is convicted, she faces two to 20 years in prison.
Hardy paid a $75,000 bond and was released a day after being arrested.
The teen was also arrested for public lewdness and bonded out the same day.
