Former 5th Grade Teacher Charged With 25 Sex Crimes Involving 2 Students

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Cortney Burleigh

A woman has been arrested for her alleged “involvement” with sex abuse by a Louisiana fifth-grade teacher accused of rape and other sick crimes involving a student who is under 13, according to authorities.

Cortney Burleigh, 37, was arrested last Thursday, a day after teacher Marisa Noel, 31, was hit with a flurry of new charges, including first-degree rape of a young student.

Noel, who taught at Teche Elementary School in Breaux Bridge, had already been charged with disturbing behavior with one of her fifth-grade students when “an additional victim was identified,” officials had said previously while announcing a flurry of new charges, taking the total to 25 counts.

The AG did not elaborate on exactly what role Burleigh allegedly played, or how she was tied to Noel, beyond noting that she “was not a teacher at the school.”

She was arrested on three felony charges, including indecent behavior with juveniles as an accessory after the fact.

She has also been charged with cruelty to juveniles — an offense which carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years in Louisiana — as well as obstruction of justice.

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Woman arrested in connection to Louisiana fifth-grade teacher Marisa Noel, who is accused of 25 child sex crimes

A woman has been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into a fifth grade teacher accused of 25 child sex crimes – including first degree rape.

nypost.com

Marisa Noel

A former fifth-grade teacher arrested earlier this week for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor now faces additional charges after investigators identified another alleged victim, according to the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Becket Breaux said the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office launched the investigation on Jan. 28, 2026, after a complaint alleged Marisa Noel, 31, was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a former student.

Authorities said Noel was employed at Teche Elementary School at the time of the alleged offenses.

In addition to Noel’s previous charges, authorities said she now faces:

• 10 counts of indecent behavior with juveniles
• A single count of first degree rape
• Two counts of child sexual abuse materials
• A single count of unlawful communications; telecommunications devices; improper language; harassment
• Three counts of computer-aided solicitation of a minor

Noel remains incarcerated at the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center.

5th grade teacher facing 25 sex crime charges involving two students, sheriff says

A criminal complaint alleged Marisa Noel, 31, was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a former student.

www.kwtx.com