A Spartanburg Day School counselor was arrested Friday after telling law enforcement that she had an inappropriate relationship with a student who attends the school.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office reports that an incident report was filed earlier in the week on March 25 which made allegations of illegal actions between a counselor and student at the Spartanburg Day School.
An investigation began when the incident report was filed and additional reports were gathered by investigators to provide evidence of the claims made in the report.
Investigators determined that the inappropriate relationship began in January 2018 and ended “several days prior” to the date of the filed incident report that sparked the investigation.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office interviewed the suspect, Kenleigh Paige Prendergast, 25 of Spartanburg on March 30. She reportedly admitted to the allegations placed against her.
Prendergast told deputies that she would text, call, or Facetime the victim during the school day and after-hours, which later led to meeting at the suspect’s home and private counseling practice. She was arrested after the interview and taken to the Spartanburg County Detention Center.
The sheriff’s office reports that Prendergast has been charged with sexual battery with a student 16 or 17 years of age with no aggravated force or coercion.
Spartanburg Day School gave a statement Saturday in regards to Prendergast’s arrest:
“Spartanburg Day School was contacted on March 31 by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and informed that an employee, Kenleigh Prendergast, was charged with sexual battery with a student. Ms. Prendergast was hired in August of 2017 as school counselor. Effective immediately, Ms. Prendergast’s employment with the school has been terminated. SDS puts the safety and wellbeing of our students above all things, and will cooperate fully with the Sheriff’s Office throughout this process.”
This investigation is still in its infancy stage and will continue to be reviewed by members of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office.