This article recounts the case of a former Columbus teacher who pleaded guilty to amended child sex crime charges after a student’s relative says she found them in a car, explains the evidence cited by prosecutors, outlines the plea deal and recommended sentence, and notes the next steps in the case.
Former Horizon Science Academy English teacher Jamelah Daboubi admitted guilt to amended counts of gross sexual imposition and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. The plea came after authorities say a 15-year-old student and the teacher had been involved in an inappropriate relationship. The move allowed Daboubi to avoid more severe penalties that would have followed if the original charges stood.
The incident that triggered the investigation reportedly occurred on April 2, 2025, when a woman said she found her 15-year-old nephew in a car with Daboubi. The woman said she caught them and confronted the situation, which led to police being notified and a formal probe by the prosecutor’s office. Court filings later placed the student in Daboubi’s class at the school.
Court documents include a blunt account of what allegedly happened inside the vehicle. “He stated while they were in the car, they kissed, Mrs. Daboubi grinded on him, and he had touched her breasts and buttocks over her clothing.” That description became central to the case as investigators pieced together testimony and digital records.
Investigators say the student acknowledged a relationship with the teacher and gave details to police about its nature. “The nephew, whom the woman has guardianship over, admitted to police that he and his teacher had been having a relationship that involved kissing and touching.” Those statements, combined with other evidence, formed the basis for the amended charges filed in court.
According to the prosecutor’s summary, the student also described communication and contact over time that went beyond a single encounter. The victim informed investigators that he and his 28-year-old teacher “had been texting for a couple of months and engaging in sexual activity for a period of time,” according to the statement. Prosecutors then searched phone records to verify what was reported.
Police reportedly uncovered a large volume of communications between the student and Daboubi. Prosecutors said police discovered “hundreds of phone calls and thousands of texts between the two, including texts where the two professed their love for each other.” Those messages were cited in charging documents as evidence of an ongoing improper relationship.
After Daboubi was arrested, Horizon Science Academy informed parents and guardians about the situation and the school’s response. ‘As of now, the individual is no longer employed at Horizon Science Academy.’ The school’s notice also stated, “At this time, we have no indication of any other concerns involving this individual and any other students, either on or off campus.”
The amended charges Daboubi pleaded guilty to carry a maximum prison term of 18 months, but the plea arrangement came with a different recommendation from prosecutors. The court was urged to impose five years of community control, require ongoing counseling, mandate community service, and strip her professional teaching credentials as part of the resolution.
As part of the guilty plea, Daboubi must register as a Tier II sex offender and she is awaiting a sentencing hearing scheduled by the court. The agreement means the case will move forward without a drawn-out trial, but the consequences will include public registration and professional fallout. Family, school officials, and the community will be watching the sentencing process closely.
The courtroom records, witness statements, and the volume of messages cited by prosecutors paint a picture of a case that hinged on both direct observation and digital evidence. The amended charges, the plea deal, and the required offender registration are the primary legal outcomes described so far. The sentencing hearing will finalize whether the recommended conditions are imposed by the judge.
