A teaching assistant at a Catholic school has been charged with having sex with a 12-year-old pupil.
Mia Cummings, 29, who worked as programme coordinator at All Saints Catholic School in Hayward, California, has been charged with eight felony counts of child molestation.
Police say Cummings had a two-year sexual relationship with the boy, who is now 14 years old.
The boy told police Cummings performed a sex act on him at least 10 times. Five of the incidents occurred in the school's kitchen when the boy was just 12 years old, and five other incidents occurred off campus, including one in Cummings' apartment.
The suspect's sister, Utopia Cummings, said her sibling had confided in her about the student long before her arrest. However, she never said anything sexual had happened between them.
In an interview with local news, Ms Cummings said: "This boy has rubbed up against her and she was like 'hey, that is not ok'. "(She was ) asking me for my advice on what is it she should do in regards to this young man. "(She said) 'I dont want to get him into trouble'."
Mia Cummings was arrested on Nov 26 following a one-week child abuse investigation by police, who say they were tipped off by a 'professional' mandated by the state. She is due to appear in court to make a plea on January 7.