TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- Mathew Blake Whitt of Mooreville was taken away from the Lee County Justice Center in handcuffs Wednesday.
The former substitute teacher in the Lee County School District is charged with two counts of sexual battery. Each count comes with a maximum penalty of 30 years in jail.
A Lee County judge set Whitt's bond at $15,000.
"Think before you act. Think before you do something stupid that's gonna take the rest of your life away from you," Lee County Sheriff's Department Investigator Donna Franks said.
The parents of a 15-year-old girl alerted law enforcement.
Since that time, a search warrant was issued. Electronic devices are being examined for any potential evidence, such as inappropriate text messages.
More charges may be pending.
"Looking at it, you may have to say, 'Well, there are actually two people. One may be as responsible as the next one,' but in the eyes of the law, the adult is the one that is responsible for the actions," Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson said.
"People need to know if they do things like this, they are going to the penitentiary. If you plead guilty or if you get found guilty of something like this, there's no way you're not going to jail," Lee County Prosecutor James Moore said.
During Whitt's initial court appearance, Moore informed the judge the defendant may have tried to contact the victim through a third party.
Justice Court Judge Sadie Holland ordered Whitt to stay at least 500 yards away from all Lee County schools. He is to have no contact with the victim or her family.
