South Dakota Preschool Teacher Charged with Raping 3-Year-Old

A preschool teacher has been arrested after being accused of raping a 3-year-old at a South Dakota daycare she taught at.

Sarah Hazledine, 48, is charged with first-degree rape of a minor under the age of 13 and sexual contact with a minor under the age of 16 stemming from an alleged incident at a day care in Spearfish in August 2024, according to KGNS. If convicted, she could face 15 years in prison.

Court documents obtained by KGNS indicate that Hazledine allegedly “sexually penetrated a child,” both charges stem from an incident involving the same victim.

A woman who claims to have been friends with Hazledine for more than 30 years claimed to KGNS that the allegations are false. She told the outlet that there are dozens of people who have offered to be a character witness for Hazledine.

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The Spearfish Police Department were not immediately available to comment to PEOPLE about Hazledine’s arrest details.

Hazledine posted a $75,000 bond on Thursday and is scheduled for her first court appearance on April 28, per KGNS.