PALMETTO, Fla. – A Palmetto school employee faces felony charges after he allegedly impregnated a student at Lincoln Middle School.

Police arrested “graduation enhancement technician” Lamont Houston, 31, on Thursday and he was arraigned by Circuit Judge Edward Nicholas the next day on charges of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child between the ages 12 and 16, as well as child abuse for impregnating the unnamed student, the Bradenton Herald reports.

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Police contend the student’s mother contacted authorities after she realized her daughter was pregnant and confronted the girl, who admitted she had sex with Houston. The police report states Houston started a “casual relationship” with the child in May through text messages, according to the news site.

Houston, who was also a basketball coach at the high school, first met with the girl in June and they had sex in his car and the two repeated their behavior several weeks later, police allege.

Houston was initially hired by the Manatee County school district in 2014 as a teacher’s assistant with an annual salary of $20,535. He was promoted to the graduation enhancement technician position for the 2015-16 school year, when he took home $38,012, according to the news site.

“The graduation enhancement technician position in the school district was created for the start of the 2015-16 academic year, as part of the district’s involvement with the campaign for grade-level reading,” the Herald reports.

The district’s website states that graduation enhancement technicians, known as GETs, are “responsible for resolving problems that interfere with student progress and achievement including excessive absenteeism, lack of health/personal care, homelessness, and limited parent engagement.”

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During Houston’s arraignment, Judge Nicholas noted the sad irony of his position in the school district.

Houston’s alleged victim was a middle school student, “and perhaps more important, is that you were a school board employee who worked at the school she attended,” he said.

“You took advantage of the opportunity,” Nicholas added as he set Houston’s bond at $55,000 and ordered no contact with his alleged victim.

Court records did not detail the alleged victim’s age.

School district attorney Mitchell Teitelbaum issued a prepared statement about the situation, WFLA reports.

“The School District on Thursday was alerted of the arrest of Graduation Enhancement Technician Lamont Houston. Based upon this notification, the School District followed all protocols and procedures that protect the safety of our students,” he wrote.

“The employee was immediately removed from the school and any contact with students. On Friday, Mr. Houston resigned and agreed not to seek any reemployment with the District. In addition to this resignation, the District will be seeking termination proceedings against Mr. Houston.”

Lincoln Middle School Principal Eddie Hundley also sent out a robo call to parents:

This is Lincoln Middle School principal Eddie Hundley calling to make sure you have accurate information about a serious matter involving our school. The Palmetto Police Department arrested a member of our staff today. The staff member has been reassigned and will not have contact with any students in the school district until law enforcement and the school district have completed investigations into this matter. We will keep you updated as warranted. Thank you.