Teacher who started dating student after she graduated faces 20 years in jail

A high school wrestling coach and teacher is currently facing 20 years locked-up.

Cody Pester was a sixth-grade teacher (about the ages of 11-12) at Palmyra Junior-Senior High School in Nebraska when he reportedly met a female student at a sporting event.

And the 26-year-old year old was arrested in late January for allegedly dating her after she graduated. It is said he and the then 18-year-old began exchanging text messages on 10 May 2025 – the day of her graduation in Palmyra.

Investigators have claimed that the pair had exchanged about 13,000 texts from that day up to 8 August.

Chief Deputy Ben Houchin of Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said during a press conference that the relationship between them had allegedly turned sexual by 18 July.

He had been working in his capacity as a coach when he reportedly met the student. (KOLN)

An affidavit obtained by PEOPLE reveals that the authorities were made ‘aware of an allegation of sexual abuse by a school worker’ on 29 December 2025 and then later spoke to the alleged victim.

She told investigators late last month that the pair ‘agreed to be in an intimate relationship’ two months after she graduated.

The former student informed investigators that Pester and her engaged in intimate relations on ‘several occasions’ during July and August 2025.

Pester was then arrested and he waived his Fifth Amendment rights as he admitted that the pair had sex about six times in July and said they were in a relationship.

He was charged with sexual abuse by a school official.

In Nebraska, teachers cannot have intimate relationships with students (which is a common law).

However, although the graduate was not a minor, the state has a less common rule that teachers are still in violation if they engage in intimate relations with a student in the 90 days after they graduate from or leave the school system.

The teacher also worked as the wrestling coach. (Lancaster County Department of Corrections)

Pester’s bail was set at $100,000 and he was then released on a $10,000 bond.

A letter to parents from the school district shortly after his arrest announced that he had been ‘immediately removed ... from all classroom and extracurricular duties’.

“We are cooperating fully with law enforcement as they continue to conduct their investigation,” it added.

“We understand that news like this can be upsetting for students, families, and staff. Counselling and support services will be made available for students at the high school who may need them in the coming days, and families are encouraged to reach out to school administrators with any additional concerns."

Pester is yet to enter a plea and is due to appear in court in March. If he is found guilty, the man faces a sentence of up to 20 years in jail.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.