DEMOPOLIS &045; Nathan Wesley Hallman, 24, a Demopolis High School teacher originally from Northport, surrendered to Demopolis Police Wednesday morning in connection with immoral behavior with a Demopolis High School student. Police charged Hallman with rape in the second degree and enticing a child for immoral purposes.

Public Safety Director Jeff Manuel said Hallman was arrested at approximately 11:30 a.m. and they transported him to the Marengo County Detention Center. Jail records show Hallman posted a bail bond, which was set at $5,000 for each charge, and was released Wednesday.

Hallman, who was a social studies teacher and assistant coach for both the baseball and football teams, turned in a resignation letter Friday afternoon to DHS principal Dr. Isaac Espy and Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers.

Espy said he was informed of evidence of an inappropriate relationship between Hallman and a student that afternoon and investigated the matter immediately by reviewing school surveillance tapes, interviewing school personnel and also speaking with the victim.

Although Hallman turned in a resignation, neither Espy nor Vickers can accept it. The Demopolis City Schools Board of Education will have to decide whether or not to accept his resignation or to seek some other action in regard to his employment status. Their next meeting is set for March 24.

As for the vacancy in the faculty, Espy said Gayle Flowers, a former DHS teacher who retired last year, will take over his classes for the remaining nine weeks.

If Hallman does not seek a preliminary hearing, his case will go before a grand jury. The next grand jury term of court for Marengo County is set for June.

According to state criminal code, rape in the second degree is classified as sexual interaction with a minor between the ages of 13 and 16 by an individual over the age of 16 with at least two years between the parties. The charge is a class B felony and is punishable by a maximum of 20 years.

The second charge is defined as &8220;any person with lascivious intent to entice, allure, persuade, or invite, or attempt to entice, allure, persuade, or invite, any child under 16 years of age to enter any vehicle, room, house, office, or other place for the purpose of proposing to such child the performance of an act of sexual intercourse or an act which constitutes the offense of sodomy or for the purpose of proposing the fondling or feeling of the sexual or genital parts of such child or the breast of such child, or for the purpose of committing an aggravated assault on such child, or for the purpose of proposing that such child fondle or feel the sexual or genital parts of such person.&8221; The charge is a class C felony and is punishable by a maximum of 10 years.