A South O’Brien School District teacher has been charged following a four‑week investigation into allegations she sent sexually explicit Snapchat messages to a 17‑year‑old student from another O’Brien County school district.
According to the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, the South O’Brien School District reported the incident on Aug. 5 after a mandatory reporter notified administrators that 37‑year‑old Priscilla Dawn Jenness of Primghar had been sending Snapchats described as sexual in nature to the teenager.
The district launched an internal investigation and then contacted law enforcement. Court documents say Jenness added the student to her Snapchat account on July 8, and both she and the teen exchanged sexual images — including one the student reported sending at Jenness’ request. Some of the images were included in the report provided to investigators.
O’Brien County Sheriff Bruce Devereaux says the district fully cooperated as deputies executed search warrants for social media records and cellphone data and conducted multiple interviews. Court filings state Jenness admitted to district officials that the accusations were true, and investigators say evidence recovered from her phone included statements discussing the pictures and videos exchanged. The sheriff’s office says the activity appears to have occurred entirely online, and no physical contact is alleged.
Following the investigation, deputies applied for arrest warrants charging Jenness with sexual exploitation by a school employee and grooming — both Class D felonies — along with a serious misdemeanor count of dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to a minor. Each felony charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison if convicted.
A warrant was issued on Sept. 4. Jenness turned herself in to the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office in Primghar on Sept. 5 and was released the same day after posting an $11,000 surety bond. Her initial court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22, and a no‑contact order has been requested involving the 17‑year‑old.
(Some information courtesy fellow Community First Broadcasting station KIWA in Sheldon.)
