HUMBOLDT — A former Humboldt Community School District teacher has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of sexual exploitation of a child, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa reported.

Samantha A. Meyer-Davis, 32, of Rutland, awaits sentencing in U.S. District Court. Under the terms of the plea agreement she faces between 210 and 288 months in federal prison.

In the plea agreement, Meyer-Davis admitted to having a sexual relationship with a female student under the age of 18 between May 2022 and Nov. 14, 2023. This relationship included the production of visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct, according to federal court documents.

Rumors about the teacher’s inappropriate relationship with the student first surfaced in the fall of 2022. District administrators met with her twice in August 2022 and once in September 2022 to question her about the rumors.

A complaint about Meyer-Davis was filed with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 7, 2023. An investigation ensued.

A November 2023 search that included electronic devices revealed sexually explicit text messages, photos and videos involving Meyer-Davis and the student dating back to Oct. 19, 2022, according to court records.

A state arrest warrant was issued on Feb 23, 2024, charging Meyer-Davis with third degree sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a school employee. She turned herself in to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.

The case against her was later transferred to federal court.