A teacher in Nebraska is facing up to 20 years in prison for engaging in an intimate relationship with a recently-graduated student, who is 18 years old. While many could find this preposterous, local law might end up with the teacher behind bars after all.
The case was summarized by Robbie Harvey on TikTok. The teacher, 26-year-old Cody Pester, who worked as a high school wrestling coach in Palmyra, began exchanging texts with the unnamed woman after meeting her at a sporting event.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, the text exchange began on May 10, 2025, which was the female student’s graduation. Months later, on July 18, 2025, both “agreed to be in an intimate relationship.”
On December 29, 2025, local authorities received an allegation of sexual abuse committed by a school worker, Pester. On January 23, both the former student and Pester were interviewed by investigators. They both admitted to engaging in intimate relations on multiple occasions, the affidavit said.
Three days later, Pester was arrested and charged with sexual abuse by a school official.
Reactions, Nebraska Law
Many, of course, were shocked by the teacher’s arrest, calling it absurd. This was fueled by Harvey’s assertion that the woman was an adult when she began an intimate relationship with Pester. Additionally, Harvey also said that the former student was not a student of Pester’s.
“Nebraska is wild for this,” one user commented. Another one asked, “Isn’t everyone a former student & didn’t she turn 18 first?” A third one said, “I feel like this is a waste of time and taxpayer dollars.”
Turns out, the legal age of majority in Nebraska is 19. The former female student, in this case, was legally a minor. However, the age of consent in the state is 16 years old.
While the teacher would’ve probably gone unscathed, the issue arises when it comes to the timing: Nebraska law prohibits teachers from engaging in intimate relations with students within the first 90 days after they graduate.
Pester’s bail was set at $100,000, and he was released after posting a $10,000 bond. Should he be found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
