Latest news with #NicoleBallewCallaham
The Sun
15-07-2025
- The Sun
Sick ex- school teacher, 33, accused of molesting a student, 14, grins as she is released on bail after bombshell twist
A FORMER elementary school teacher charged with having a "prolonged" relationship with a 14-year-old boy has been released on bail. Nicole Ballew Callaham, 33, was seen grinning as she was allowed to return home after she dropped a bombshell revelation in court. 6 6 6 Callaham has been accused of grooming the teenager for over two years while he was at school. The South Carolina native faces three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Callaham gave herself up to cops last Thursday after a thorough investigation into the ex-teacher which started back in May. After spending less than a week locked up, the mom has now been granted bail. The decision was made when her lawyers revealed Callaham was up to nine weeks pregnant with a second child. It is unclear who the dad is but her fiance did attend the hearing. Alleged victim Grant Strickland has waived his anonymity in the case to hit out at the teacher. Detectives believe the alleged misconduct from Callaham began in 2021 and continued for at least two years afterwards. Within that time frame, Callaham is believed to have signed the Strickland out of school, transported him to practices and even served as a supervisor for after-school activities, the sheriff's office said. Cops described these patterns as "grooming behavior". Strickland came forward to police shortly after his 18th birthday after he spent years "processing the experience and trauma", authorities said. They added: "These repeated interactions led to a prolonged pattern of abuse, which was corroborated by search warrants and ongoing cooperation with the victim's family." Strickland openly spoke in the courtroom before Callaham was released on bond. He said: "I'm here to fight and I'm not going to back down. I think more awareness needs to be brought to things like this." A detective also read a letter written by the teen's mother. The angered mom claimed: "She saw our son's innocence and that he was very easily manipulated." Callaham's defense attorney said his client has cooperated with law enforcement and they "look forward to a day in court". The Greenville City Police Department has brought similar charges against Callaham which are separate from those in Anderson County. 6 6 This is due to the boy attending school in Greenville during the alleged inappropriate conduct. The charges include eight counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and four counts of unlawful conduct towards a child. Court filings claim Callaham allegedly provided the teen with marijuana, nicotine and alcohol during the two years. Callaham resigned from her job at Homeland Park Elementary School before the charges were officially filed. It follows a teacher who is accused of raping her 15-year-old student 50 times moaning that she is being targeted because of her good looks. Christina Formella, 30, claimed she is the victim of misogynistic "sexist scrutiny" and complained about being depicted as a "predator". Ms Formella denies the charges. 6
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Daily Mail
South Carolina teacher makes shocking revelation as she appears in court for molesting boy when he was 14
A South Carolina teacher was seen smirking in court while her lawyer fought for her release after revealing she is pregnant. Nicole Ballew Callaham, 33, voluntarily turned herself into the Anderson County Detention Center on Thursday for allegedly molesting a boy, Grant Stickland, when he was 14 years old. On Monday, Callaham strolled into the courtroom for her bond hearing in Anderson, about 40 minutes outside of Greenville, smiling as she looked at her family support system, which included her fiancé. 'Miss Callaham is eight to nine weeks pregnant,' her attorney, William Epps III, told the judge as his client, dressed in a red prison jumpsuit, stood beside him. Epps then asked the court to consider her presumed innocence and let her out on bond, insisting that she needs to receive prenatal care - something he said she has not gotten while behind bars. He also said she poses no danger to the public, citing her eight-year career as an elementary school teacher and having no criminal history. There was no suggestion by either the defense or the prosecution that the baby was conceived with the victim. Greenville Municipal Court Judge Matthew Hawley granted her request for bond, but under several conditions. 'I am going to set a surety bond on each of these in the amount of $10,000, as they did in Anderson, for a total of $120,000 surety,' Hawley said, adding that she must remain under house arrest with GPS monitoring and cannot contact Strickland. Callaham must also undergo a mental and physical evaluation to determine if she can stand trial, the judge ordered. Hawley established a 'red zone' Callaham must avoid so she does not come within a mile of the victim's home in Anderson County. Strickland, now 18, claims he was abused by the former kindergarten teacher from 2021 until 2023 in Anderson. Authorities said the alleged abuse started when he was 14, his mom claims they first met at an audition for a Legally Blonde musical production which Callaham directed. Callaham, who is married with children, is facing three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Speaking outside of court following the hearing last week, Strickland told reporters he almost didn't survive the ordeal. 'I would never want someone to go through what I went through, I don't think most people could be strong enough to survive it. Because I almost didn't,' he said. Strickland added that he hoped his coming forward would increase awareness of the issue. He added: 'All I really want the public to know is that though it's a traumatic event I am here to fight and I'm not going to back down.' Strickland continued: 'I think awareness needs to be brought to things like this, just because I am a man doesn't mean it should be shunned away. I was a child, I wasn't a man, I was a boy.' On seeing Callaham, who appeared in court via livestream, he said he felt like a weight had been lifted. 'I don't think I would've been able to move on if it wasn't for the support from family and loved ones, and being able to come out about it', he added. The Anderson County Sheriff's Office said that at the time of the allegations, Callaham was an Anderson County School teacher, she has since resigned. The school district said that she had worked at Homeland Park Primary School from 2017 until she resigned in May of this year. In a statement, the sheriff's office said that Callaham would sign Strickland out of school and serve as a supervisor for after-school activities. Authorities said these repeated interactions led to a prolonged pattern of abuse, which they corroborated with warrants and help from Strickland and his family. They added that Strickland came forward after he turned 18, having spent time processing the 'trauma associated with the abuse.' She is also facing a number of charges in nearby Greenville County, if the bond is met she will be transported there for a separate bond hearing. The Greenville Police Department brought similar charges against her, alleging the conduct extended into their jurisdiction as Strickland attended school there. Following her arraignment and if the bond is met, she will be transported to the Greenville County for a separate bond hearing. Callaham is charged with eight counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, and four counts of unlawful conduct towards a child. A trial date has not yet been set. Strickland's mother released a statement at the hearing also, saying: 'We truly thought she believed in his talent and was helping him grow and build his confidence. 'We trusted her completely with our son, as she seemed to be a wonderful mentor to our son and other young actors and actresses by investing in them. 'Looking back, it sickens me knowing Nikki manipulated our son and our family. She was waiting on this opportunity, and she found the perfect victim and family to prey on perfect meaning. 'She saw our son's innocence and that he was very easily manipulated and drawn into her perfect meaning. 'She saw a family who had a lot of love and kindness to share with those who needed it.' The Clemson City Police Department is also investigating the case.
The Sun
13-07-2025
- The Sun
Twisted former school teacher, 33, charged over ‘prolonged' relationship with 14-year-old boy after she ‘groomed him'
A FORMER elementary school teacher has been charged with having a "prolonged" relationship with a 14-year-old boy. Nicole Ballew Callaham, 33, has been accused of grooming the teenager for over two years. 3 3 The South Carolina native faces three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Callaham gave herself up to cops on Thursday, the Anderson County Sheriff's Office said. It came after a thorough investigation into the ex-teacher which started back in May. Detectives found the alleged misconduct began in 2021 and continued for at least two years afterwards. Within that time frame, Callaham is believed to have signed the student out of school, transported him to practices and even served as a supervisor for after-school activities, the sheriff's office said. Cops described these patterns as "grooming behavior". The boy involved was in his early teens when the alleged relationship started. He came forward to police shortly after his 18th birthday after he spent years "processing the experience and trauma", authorities said. They added: "These repeated interactions led to a prolonged pattern of abuse, which was corroborated by search warrants and ongoing cooperation with the victim's family." The Greenville City Police Department has brought similar charges against Callaham which are separate from those in Anderson County. Major update on teacher, 34, who had BABY with boy, 13, & was exposed when 'his dad realised he looked like her child' This is due to the boy attending school in Greenville during the alleged inappropriate conduct. The charges include eight counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and four counts of unlawful conduct towards a child. Court filings claim Callaham allegedly provided the teen with marijuana, nicotine and alcohol during the two years. Callaham resigned from her job at Homeland Park Elementary School before the charges were officially filed. She is also currently pregnant and has one child at home. She appeared in bond court this week where a detective read a letter written by the teen's mother. The angered mom claimed: "She saw our son's innocence and that he was very easily manipulated." Callaham's defense attorney said his client has cooperated with law enforcement and they "look forward to a day in court". The judge set her bond at $40,000 and ordered her not to have contact with Strickland's family. It follows a teacher who is accused of raping her 15-year-old student 50 times moaning that she is being targeted because of her good looks. Christina Formella, 30, claimed she is the victim of misogynistic "sexist scrutiny" and complained about being depicted as a "predator". 3
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Brave boy 'raped by teacher from age of 14 comes' forward to reveal how 'attacks' nearly drove him to suicide
A teenager who says he was sexually abused by a teacher from when he was 14 says her behavior left him badly traumatized and on the verge of suicide. Grant Strickland claims he was abused by former kindergarten teacher Nicole Ballew Callaham, 33, from 2021 until 2023 in Anderson, South Carolina. Authorities say the alleged abuse started when he was 14, his mom claims they first met at an audition for a Legally Blonde musical production which Callaham directed. Callaham, who is married with children, is facing three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She voluntarily handed herself into the Anderson County Detention Center on Thursday, her bond hearing was later that day. Speaking outside of court following the hearing, Strickland told reporters he almost didn't survive the ordeal He said: 'I would never want someone to go through what I went through, I don't think most people could be strong enough to survive it. Because I almost didn't.' Strickland added that he hoped him coming forward would increase awareness of the issue. He added: 'All I really want the public to know is that though it's a traumatic event I am here to fight and I'm not going to back down.' Strickland continued: 'I think awareness needs to be brought to things like this, just because I am a man doesn't mean it should be shunned away. I was a child, I wasn't a man, I was a boy.' On seeing Callaham, who appeared in court via livestream, he said he felt like a weight had been lifted. 'I don't think I would've been able to move on if it wasn't for the support from family and loved ones, and being able to come out about it', he added. The Anderson County Sheriff's Office said that at the time of the allegations Callaham was an Anderson County School teacher, she has since resigned. The school district said that she had worked at Homeland Park Primary School from 2017 until she resigned in May of this year. In a statement, the sheriff's office said that Callaham would sign Strickland out of school and served as a supervisor for after-school activities. Authorities said these repeated interactions led to a prolonged pattern of abuse, which they corroborated with warrants and help from Strickland and his family. They added that Strickland came forward after he turned 18, having spent time processing the 'trauma associated with the abuse'. At her hearing on Thursday she was issued a $40,000 bond for the charges in Anderson County. She was seen crying in footage from the court. She is also facing a number of charges in nearby Greenville County, if the bond is met she will be transported there for a separate bond hearing. The Greenville Police Department brought similar charges against her, alleging the conduct extended into their jurisdiction as Strickland attended school there. Following her arraignment, she will be transported to the Greenville County Detention Center for charges filed by the Greenville Police Department. Callaham is charged with eight counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, and four counts of unlawful conduct towards a child. Strickland's mother released a statement at the hearing also, saying: 'We truly thought she believed in his talent and was hoping him grow and build his confidence. 'We trusted her completely with our son, as she seemed to be a wonderful mentor to our son and other young actors and actresses by investing in them. 'Looking back, it sickens me knowing Nikki manipulated our son and our family. She was waiting on this opportunity, and she found the perfect victim and family to prey on perfect meaning. 'She saw our son's innocence and that he was very easily manipulated and drawn into her perfect meaning. 'She saw a family who had a lot of love and kindness to share with those who needed it.' The Clemson City Police Department is also investigating the case. Her next bond hearing in Greenville is set for Monday at 10am.
Sunday World
11-07-2025
- Sunday World
Ex-school teacher (33) charged after ‘prolonged pattern of abuse and grooming' of teen
Investigators said the victim decided to come forward after turning 18," following time spent processing the experience and trauma associated with the abuse' A former South Carolina teacher has been taken into custody following an alleged "prolonged and inappropriate" relationship with a teen. Nicole Ballew Callaham (33) turned herself in to the Anderson County Detention Center on Thursday, the Anderson County Sheriff's Office said. She has been charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Detectives say the charges stem from a "prolonged and inappropriate" relationship with a teenage boy that allegedly began in 2021 and continued for at least two years. Nicole Ballew Callaham News in 90 Seconds - July 11th Callaham, a teacher at the time, began 'grooming behaviour' with the boy in his early teen years, authorities said. The relationship intensified as she allegedly signed the student out of school, transported him to practices, and served as a supervisor for after-school activities. These repeated interactions allegedly led to a prolonged pattern of abuse, which was corroborated by search warrants and ongoing cooperation with the victim's family, according to authorities. The New York Post has reported that Callaham taught at Homeland Park Elementary School from 2017 until her resignation on May 21. 'The relationship intensified as she reportedly signed the student out of school, transported him to practices and served as a supervisor for after-school activities,' the sheriff's office said. 'These repeated interactions led to a prolonged pattern of abuse, which was corroborated by search warrants and ongoing cooperation with the victim's family.' Investigators said the victim decided to come forward after turning 18," following time spent processing the experience and trauma associated with the abuse'. In addition to the charges in Anderson County, the Greenville City Police Department has brought similar charges against Callaham. The alleged conduct extended into its jurisdiction when the boy attended school in Greenville. Callaham has resigned from Anderson School District Five. Authorities said she voluntarily surrendered herself on Thursday morning to the Anderson County Detention Center.
