Nebraska teacher and wrestling coach is two decades in prison for up to 20 years for allegedly dating a former student after she graduated

Cody Pester, 26, who taught sixth grade at Palmyra Junior-Senior High School, was arrested late last month after an investigation by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office uncovered the relationship

Pester and the then-18-year-old began exchanging text messages on the day she graduated, May 10, 2025

Teacher and teen who met previously at a sporting event, exchanged about 13,000 text messages from the day she graduated to August 8, and by July 18, the relationship turned sexual

Pester allegedly, waived his Fifth Amendment rights upon his arrest and admitted that they had sex about six times that month

Although the graduate was not a minor, teachers are not allowed to have intimate relationships with students within 90 days of their graduation under state law 

Nebraska teacher and wrestling coach Cody Pester, [photo]26,was arrested late January after an investigation by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office uncovered a relationship with a recent high school graduate

A male teacher in Nebraska could spend two decades in prison for allegedly dating a former student, just after her graduation. 
26-year-ol Cody Pester, who doubles as wrestling coach while teaching sixth grade at Palmyra Junior-Senior High School, was arrested late January after an investigation by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office uncovered the relationship. 
Local 12 quotes a police report that Pester and the then-18-year-old began exchanging text messages on the day she graduated, May 10, 2025. Cops claim Pester and the unidentified teen exchanged about 13,000 text messages from the day she graduated to August 8. 
The pair who it is believed met previously at a sporting event, KOLN. reports, however, by July 18, the relationship allegedly turned sexual, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said during a press conference.
Waiving his Fifth Amendment rights upon his arrest police said, Pester admitted that they had sex about six times that month. 
The legal implication is that while female partner in the affair was not a minor and had graduated, by state law teachers are not allowed to have intimate relationships with students within 90 days of their graduation.

Pester taught sixth grade at Palmyra Junior-Senior High School, in Lancaster County, Nebraska. He was also the wrestling coach at the school

It is unclear who initially tipped off authorities about the alleged relationship, but the sheriff’s office in Lancaster County, learned of the alleged situation in late December 2025.
Investigators interviewed the former student on January 23. She admitted to investigators that she and Pester engaged in sexual relations several times in July and August 2025.
Three days after the teen was interviewed, Pester was arrested on ‘suspicion of an inappropriate relationship with a former student’. He was then released on a $10,000 bond after it was dropped from $100,000.
The School District immediately relieved Pester of his teaching duties and his coaching position at the school. The district also released a letter updating parents about the development. 

Pester is seen [photo], during his college years, on the Nebraska Wesleyan University wrestling team of 2020-21

Pester has been charged with sexual abuse by a school official – an accusation that carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. 
He has not entered a plea yet and is due back in court in March.