A 41-year-old former Wythe County teacher who was arrested in January on charges that she sexually molested a 13-year-old student has been arrested once again, this time on charges that she molested two other boys.

Karen Sue Patton, who last taught at Scott Memorial Middle School, was charged on Monday with three counts of carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and one count of assault and battery of a minor, Wythe County prosecutor Gerald Mabe said this afternoon.

Mabe said the charges stem from allegations that Patton was sexually involved with two other 13-year-old boys in addition to the first boy. The incidents occurred in 2004 and 2005, he said.

In January, Patton was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old, and having oral sex with a 13-year-old boy.

Patton taught English and was a cheerleading coach at Scott Memorial Middle School for 1½ years.

Mabe would not give details about the investigation that led to the further charges against Patton or give information about the victims but said “it is safe to say that they are former students.”

Mabe said he is not sure if all three students attended Scott Memorial Middle School. Patton had taught at Wythe County Public Schools for over eight years before she resigned in the midst of the January charges.

According to a January search warrant filed in the case, instant-message communications between Patton and the student were turned over to police along with a "hand-written letter that appears to reference a sexual relationship."

The warrant said Wytheville police seized several items at Patton's home, including two computers, a digital camera and a sheet of paper with the "eighth-grade boys basketball team on it."

Mabe said a second warrant was later filed and Patton’s computer at Scott Memorial Middle School was seized. He would not reveal Tuesday what police found on that computer.

Patton was arrested either last night or early today, Mabe said. By this afternoon she had been bonded out of the New River Valley Regional Jail.

-- Joe Eaton