A school in Texas found that one of their female high school students was actually a woman in her 30s.
Charity Anne Johnson, 34, attended classes at New Life Christian School in Longview since October last year. At the time of admission, she claimed to school officals that she was 15 years old.
Her true age was revealed when her adoptive family became suspicious of her identity and wanted her to leave the house. Longview police officials said Charity identified herself as Charite Stevens who was born on November 24, 1997. However, police said her jail records shows she was above 30. Following this, she was arrested.
According to the school principal Stuart Newlin, during enrollment Johnson said she was homeschooled before. "She acted like a respectful student and did good work," Newlin told USA Today. "She had good grades."
He said the school fees are $150 a month. However, it does not penalize students for not paying the entire fee. He informed that Johnson had been paying about $24 month tuition at the school with about 30 students.
Newlin also said everybody in the school was convinced Johnson was a teenager. "The why? Nobody seems to know why," Newlin told the Associated Press.
Tamica Lincoln, with whom Johnson stayed said she told her she needed a place to stay. "I sympathised with her, and invited her into my home," she told KLTV television station. "I took her in as a child, did her hair, got her clothes and shoes."
Lincoln, who had good relations with Johnson's teachers, added everybody in the school was shocked. "Teachers were crying and students were crying," she said. "And her best friend just couldn't believe it."
Johnson was being held in the Gregg County Jail on $500 bond.
