MARION COUNTY — A 36-year-old Special Education teacher at South Central High School in Farina has pleaded not guilty in Marion County Court in connection with charges she sent sexually explicit materials to a student.

Sian E. Kuester was charged in October with Class 4 felony manufacture of harmful material and sending them to a minor. Kuester waived a preliminary hearing today and has demanded a jury trial.

According to court records, Kuester, of Salem, sent sexually inappropriate texts, pictures and a video to a minor student.

The case was originally opened in January, but court records show the charge against Kuester wasn’t filed until October.

Kuester was initially suspended by the school district for five days without pay after the school board ordered her to stop texting the student and she refused.

When law enforcement moved forward with the investigation and charges, Kuester was placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the court case.

At the time of her arrest, Kuester posted bond and was given a notice to appear in court, so she had not yet been processed at the Marion County Jail.

She was ordered in court Wednesday to report immediately to the jail to have an arrest card made, which would include a mugshot and fingerprints.