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COLUMBIA A Dutch Fork Middle School cafeteria worker accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy at her home has been arrested, Columbia police announced Tuesday.
Lawanda Ann Cummings, 42, is charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, according to an arrest warrant.
Since the woman worked in the school cafeteria, she didn’t have routine direct contact with students, Lexington-Richland School District 5 spokesman Mark Bounds said, adding the woman and student were acquainted outside of school.
Cummings was placed on paid administrative leave from her job Tuesday when the district was told of the arrest, Bounds said.
Columbia police allege the boy, a student at Dutch Fork Middle School, was at the suspect’s home along Columbiana Drive in May 2012 when the incident occurred.
According to the arrest warrant, the suspect allegedly took the boy into her room and closed the door under the pretense of studying.
Once inside, the warrant says, the woman engaged in a sexual act with the boy. The assault continued until one of the suspect’s children, who was home at the time, came to the door.
Cummings was being held Tuesday at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
