ELIZABETH — A substitute teacher at a city public school has been charged with raping one of her students.

Nataly Lopez, 27, had sex with the student in her car at least twice and exchanged sexually explicit text messages with him for several weeks, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said.

Lopez worked at Nicholas S. Lacorte-Peterston School 3, which enrolls K-8 students, but was employed by a private company that the district uses to provide substitute teachers.

She was arrested Thursday and was being held at the Union County jail pending a court hearing. New Jersey 101.5 did not know Friday whether she had an attorney who could speak on her behalf.

She has been charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Sergio Bichao is deputy digital editor at New Jersey 101.5. Send him news tips: Call 609-359-5348 or email sergio.bichao@townsquaremedia.com.

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