A Kentucky school teacher was arrested Thursday and faces 22 rape charges involving one victim.

Matthew R. Edwards, 31, of Greensburg, was arrested by Kentucky State Police on a warrant from the Lebanon Police Department. The Marion County Area Technology Center teacher was charged with 22 counts of third-degree rape and two counts of prohibited use of electronic communication systems to procure a minor in a sex offense, according to the Lebanon Enterprise. 

Edwards pleaded not guilty in Marion Circuit Court Thursday. Edwards has been released on a $5,000 bond and has been ordered to have no contact with the complaining witness.

The charges reportedly stem from 22 sexual incidents between Edwards and a female technology center student, who was 16 at the time, between August 2019 and December 2019.

The electronic communication charges were the result of allegedly explicit text messages Edwards sent the victim.

Marion County school officials told the Lexington Herald-Leader that “Marion County Public Schools was dismayed to learn of the charges involving a teacher at the local Area Technology Center. These allegations in no way represent the core values or culture of MCPS or our partner organizations. As always, creating a safe environment for our students is our number one priority.”