Nebraska teacher, 26, facing 20 years in prison for dating high school graduate, 19

[1srelluc]

Cody Pester, a 6th-grade teacher and high school wrestling coach, is charged with sexual abuse for a relationship with a woman 2 months after she graduated.

• Nebraska schoolteacher Cody Pester, 26, and an 18-year-old female allegedly entered an intimate relationship two months after she graduated from high school.
• 
  
• Pester is now charged with sexual abuse by a school official.
• 
  
• If found guilty at trial, Pester could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison on that charge

In the Spring of 2025, a sixth-grade teacher in Nebraska met a student in his capacity as the high school wrestling coach.

Cody Pester, 26, and the young woman began exchanging texts on May 10, which is the same day she graduated from high school in Palmyra, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

On July 18, 2025, the two decided to enter into an intimate relationship, according to statements made by both Pester and the unnamed female, then 18, contained in the affidavit.

The affidavit states that on Dec. 29, 2025, "Lancaster County investigators were made aware of an allegation of sexual abuse by a school worker."

There is no mention of who tipped off authorities, but a little less than a month after that tip came in, they spoke to the alleged victim in the case.

On Jan. 23, she told investigators that she and Pester "agreed to be in an intimate relationship" two months after she graduated from school.

The affidavit also says that she informed investigators with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office that she and Pester engaged in intimate relations on "several occasions during the month of July, 2025 and August, 2025."

Apparently there is a 90-day law in NE about strupping a former student that graduated....What's so magical about the 91st day is beyond me.

Folks from there say in NE you are a minor till you are 19.....WTF?

Let's see....She was 18 at the time.
She had graduated.
He is not and was not ever in a position of power over her.

Not Gulity!

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

This is ridiculous.

 

[JGalt]

Cody Pester, a 6th-grade teacher and high school wrestling coach, is charged with sexual abuse for a relationship with a woman 2 months after she graduated.

• Nebraska schoolteacher Cody Pester, 26, and an 18-year-old female allegedly entered an intimate relationship two months after she graduated from high school.
• 
  
• Pester is now charged with sexual abuse by a school official.
• 
  
• If found guilty at trial, Pester could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison on that charge

In the Spring of 2025, a sixth-grade teacher in Nebraska met a student in his capacity as the high school wrestling coach.

Cody Pester, 26, and the young woman began exchanging texts on May 10, which is the same day she graduated from high school in Palmyra, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

On July 18, 2025, the two decided to enter into an intimate relationship, according to statements made by both Pester and the unnamed female, then 18, contained in the affidavit.

The affidavit states that on Dec. 29, 2025, "Lancaster County investigators were made aware of an allegation of sexual abuse by a school worker."

There is no mention of who tipped off authorities, but a little less than a month after that tip came in, they spoke to the alleged victim in the case.

On Jan. 23, she told investigators that she and Pester "agreed to be in an intimate relationship" two months after she graduated from school.

The affidavit also says that she informed investigators with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office that she and Pester engaged in intimate relations on "several occasions during the month of July, 2025 and August, 2025."

Apparently there is a 90-day law in NE about strupping a former student that graduated....What's so magical about the 91st day is beyond me.

Folks from there say in NE you are a minor till you are 19.....WTF?

Let's see....She was 18 at the time.
She had graduated.
He is not and was not ever in a position of power over her.

Not Gulity!

The whole country has been overreacting ever since that MeToo movement took place a few years ago.

Where was all this outrage when Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 year old cousin?

Or the dozens of blatantly-pedophillic popular songs over the years, written about young girls?

And where's all the outrage from the left about Islam, whose so-called "prophet" married a nine year-old girl? They'd never go there for some reason.

 

[White 6]

Cody Pester, a 6th-grade teacher and high school wrestling coach, is charged with sexual abuse for a relationship with a woman 2 months after she graduated.

• Nebraska schoolteacher Cody Pester, 26, and an 18-year-old female allegedly entered an intimate relationship two months after she graduated from high school.
• 
  
• Pester is now charged with sexual abuse by a school official.
• 
  
• If found guilty at trial, Pester could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison on that charge

In the Spring of 2025, a sixth-grade teacher in Nebraska met a student in his capacity as the high school wrestling coach.

Cody Pester, 26, and the young woman began exchanging texts on May 10, which is the same day she graduated from high school in Palmyra, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

On July 18, 2025, the two decided to enter into an intimate relationship, according to statements made by both Pester and the unnamed female, then 18, contained in the affidavit.

The affidavit states that on Dec. 29, 2025, "Lancaster County investigators were made aware of an allegation of sexual abuse by a school worker."

There is no mention of who tipped off authorities, but a little less than a month after that tip came in, they spoke to the alleged victim in the case.

On Jan. 23, she told investigators that she and Pester "agreed to be in an intimate relationship" two months after she graduated from school.

The affidavit also says that she informed investigators with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office that she and Pester engaged in intimate relations on "several occasions during the month of July, 2025 and August, 2025."

Apparently there is a 90-day law in NE about strupping a former student that graduated....What's so magical about the 91st day is beyond me.

Folks from there say in NE you are a minor till you are 19.....WTF?

Let's see....She was 18 at the time.
She had graduated.
He is not and was not ever in a position of power over her.

Not Gulity!

I can't see it. 20 years is ridiculous for an affair starting after graduation.

 

[pknopp]

No idea how this could stand up if it is as stated.

 

[1srelluc]

NE honors the federal definition of an adult at 18 for the .mil, voting, and gun ownership. But there are restrictions on healthcare, guardianship, and contracts as a minor.

How fucked up would it be moving to Nebraska at 18 and trying to sign a lease, get medical treatment, or take out a loan?

 

[rightwinger]

If she is of legal age and no longer a student….
I fail to see a crime

He is eight years older than her

 

[1srelluc]

The young woman should sue for violating her 1A right to free association.

 

[odanny]

The problem is not the age difference, it is that he was a teacher and met her as a student. The real issue is when is it okay to have sex with a former student, because once she is over 18 and no longer a student, she is an adult.

 

[protectionist]

The whole country has been overreacting ever since that MeToo movement took place a few years ago.

Where was all this outrage when Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 year old cousin?

Or the dozens of blatantly-pedophillic popular songs over the years, written about young girls?

And where's all the outrage from the left about Islam, whose so-called "prophet" married a nine year-old girl? They'd never go there for some reason.

And thousands of Muslims in the US & elsewhere, continue who practice pedophilia with kids as young as 9. Some people look the other way. They shoudln't. In America, no is above US LAW.

 

[rightwinger]

The problem is not the age difference, it is that he was a teacher and met her as a student. The real issue is when is it okay to have sex with a former student, because once she is over 18 and no longer a student, she is an adult.

He teaches sixth grade
She has not been at that level in six years

 

[Mac-7]

I wonder if we are getting all the facts?

 

[martybegan]

The problem is not the age difference, it is that he was a teacher and met her as a student. The real issue is when is it okay to have sex with a former student, because once she is over 18 and no longer a student, she is an adult.

The thing is he wasn't a high school teacher or even her teacher.

This law appears overly broad.

 

[1srelluc]

LOL....On the 91st day after graduation does all the young women's legs magically part for teachers?

 

[norwegen]

He waited til she was of age to cornhusker.

Seems legit.

 

[martybegan]

He waited til she was of age to cornhusker.

Seems legit.

 

[odanny]

He teaches sixth grade
She has not been at that level in six years

It does not matter, it's a professional environment, and educators know the rules, no sexual contact with students. The relationship must have began while she was a student, but that's up to them to hash out. He might not be convicted of a crime but he is done teaching there.

 

[rightwinger]

https://people.com/nebraska-teacher-facing-29-year-sentence-for-dating-high-school-grad-11897678

 

[rightwinger]

It does not matter, it's a professional environment, and educators know the rules, no sexual contact with students. The relationship must have began while she was a student, but that's up to them to hash out. He might not be charged with a crime but he is likely done teaching there.

I can see it as a fireable offense but not 20 years in jail

 

[odanny]

I can see it as a fireable offense but not 20 years in jail

Exactly, he was playing the waiting game.