Nadia Horn Sexual Assault Case

Key Takeaways

Former teacher Nadia Horn faces five felony charges involving the alleged sexual assaults of two students at North High School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
According to investigators, Horn purchased a cellphone for one student, brought students to her apartment, and provided them with alcohol.
The case against Horn raises serious questions regarding potential institutional liability.

A Wisconsin special education teacher is facing five felony charges after police allege she sexually assaulted and enticed students at the high school where she worked.

Nadia M. Horn, 22, was arrested on March 25, 2026, following an investigation by the Eau Claire Police Department into allegations involving students at North High School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The investigation began after police received a report about a “potential inappropriate relationship between a staff member and a student.”

Originally arrested on two sexual assault charges, Horn is currently facing one count of second-degree sexual assault of a child under 16 years of age, two counts of child enticement, and two counts of sexual assault of a child by a person who works or volunteers with children.

While the criminal complaint currently involves allegations concerning two victims, authorities have stated that investigators identified multiple victims during the course of the investigation.

“After the school learned of the allegations, Horn was suspended without pay pending a ‘legal resolution,’ district officials said.” (New York Post)

Allegations Detailed in the Criminal Complaint

Nadia Horn worked at North High School as a special education teacher and co-teacher of world studies.

According to the criminal complaint, concerns about Horn’s interactions involving students were reported to Detective Craig Richter, the school’s resource officer, on March 20, 2026. North High School administrators informed Richter that Horn had purchased a student a cell phone and given students rides outside of school. At that time, according to Richter, there had been no allegations of sexual misconduct.

Five days later, on March 25, 2026, a student disclosed allegations of sexual misconduct involving Horn to North High School administrators. According to the complaint, school officials then notified Detective Craig Richter, prompting the criminal investigation that ultimately led to Horn’s arrest.

According to the criminal complaint, during an interview, the student “reported that he had been missing class and that Horn had begun helping him get to class on time.” The student reported that Horn asked if he wanted to be transferred into one of her classes in January 2026, and then transferred him in.

Investigators allege Horn then began communicating with the student outside of school. According to the complaint, she asked to give him her phone number and Snapchat. When he told her he did not have cell service, she purchased him a phone. According to investigators, Horn would ask the student “to get food and hang out outside of school.”

The victim described the conversation as both “odd and weird” and that Horn sent him ”really revealing,” but not nude, photos. According to the complaint, “Horn would message him during school how she could not wait to see him and that seeing him made her body feel a ‘certain’ way.”

Police allege that on January 14, 2026, Horn picked the student up and drove him to her apartment in Eau Claire. The student told police that Horn made him feel trapped by laying on him. According to the complaint, sexual contact occurred on that date and continued during subsequent encounters at her apartment.

Investigators say the student provided videos recorded inside Horn’s apartment, including footage taken in her bedroom. According to the complaint, geolocation data associated with the videos corresponded to Horn’s apartment building.

According to the criminal complaint, this student told investigators that he was aware of the second victim experiencing similar conduct involving Horn.

Nadia Horn Admitted to Sexual Contact with Students

One of the most significant aspects of the case involves statements investigators say Horn made during a March 25, 2026 interview with law enforcement.

According to the criminal complaint, Horn admitted “she picked up a group of kids from a party and brought them home and that it was a mistake.”

She admitted to purchasing the student a phone “to help him out,” communicating with him outside of school through Snapchat and text messages, and bringing him to her apartment several times.

Investigators further allege Horn acknowledged that she may have sent nude photographs to him.

Police say Horn said she had a “sexual relationship” with the first victim, and that she had sex with him approximately three times in her bedroom. “‘I made a mistake,’” said Horn, in reference to her actions, according to the document.

According to the criminal complaint, Horn told investigators that both students had visited her apartment and that she had brought them there to ”hang out.” Horn also reportedly stated that a third student was also there.

Investigators allege that Horn admitted to having sexual intercourse with the second student on two occasions, saying that he “really wanted it.”

According to the complaint, Horn told the investigators “it just felt mutual” and reported that she did not believe she was taking advantage of the students.

The complaint further alleges that Horn admitted to providing alcohol to students who visited her apartment, stating that she gave them wine “because they asked” for it. Horn reportedly denied providing drugs to the students.

Nadia Horn Surrenders Teaching License Following Arrest

Following her arrest, Horn voluntarily surrendered her Wisconsin teaching license, meaning she is no longer authorized to work as a licensed educator in the state.

The surrender of a professional license is separate from the criminal case and does not determine whether a person is guilty of the charges against them. However, educator licensing actions can serve as an important safeguard when allegations arise involving student safety and professional misconduct.

Recognizing Grooming Behaviors

Grooming is a process by which a perpetrator gradually builds trust and creates emotional dependence in order to facilitate abuse or reduce the likelihood that the conduct will be reported.

In school settings, grooming often involves a series of escalating boundary violations rather than immediately obvious misconduct. Common warning signs may include excessive one-on-one attention, private communications through text messages or social media, gift-giving, transportation outside of normal school activities, favoritism, or efforts to develop a teacher-student relationship that extends beyond appropriate professional boundaries.

Recognizing these warning signs is critical. Parents and other adults should take concerns about inappropriate communications, gifts, special treatment, or off-campus interactions seriously, as these behaviors can be warning signs of grooming.

Sexual Abuse Perpetrators Do Not Fit a Single Profile

Cases involving female educators often generate a different public response than cases involving male teachers accused of sexual abuse.

Allegations against female perpetrators are frequently dismissed, minimized, or viewed as less serious than similar allegations involving men. Public discussion may focus on the accused teacher’s age, appearance, or gender rather than the conduct itself and its impact on the victim.

These reactions are harmful because they reinforce misconceptions about sexual abuse and may discourage victims from coming forward.

The reality is that sexual abuse perpetrators do not fit a single profile. They can be male or female, young or old, and come from any profession, background, or community.

Male victims of female perpetrators often face unique barriers to reporting abuse, including fears that they will not be believed or concerns that others will minimize what happened to them.

Every allegation of sexual abuse deserves to be taken seriously, regardless of whether the accused is male or female.

Could the Eau Claire Area School District Face Civil Liability?

Criminal proceedings are designed to determine whether an individual is guilty or innocent of the charges against them and, if convicted, what punishment they may face.

A civil investigation, however, can examine whether any institutional failures contributed to abuse.

In cases involving educators accused of sexual abuse, civil investigations often focus on whether school officials knew or should have known about concerning behavior and whether appropriate action was taken to protect students.

Schools have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for students. When allegations of abuse arise, civil investigations may help determine whether policy failures, inadequate supervision, or failure to intervene enabled the abuse.