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Former Vianney school nurse admits to sexual contact with student, charged with sex crimes

The charging documents said Erin Foerstel made a full confession.

KIRKWOOD, Mo. — A St. Louis County judge reduced the bond Thursday for a former nurse at St. John Vianney High School charged with sexually assaulting a student. 

St. Louis County prosecutors issued a warrant for Erin Foerstel, 43, of Kirkwood May 4, charging her one count of second-degree statutory sodomy and one count of sexual contact with a student.

The above video was published on April 26.

Foerstel is accused of sexually assaulting a Vianney student younger than 17 earlier this year, and made a full confession, according to court documents.

Prosecutors set a $75,000 cash-only bond, but she wasn't formally arrested and booked until she showed up for a bond hearing Thursday — a week after she was charged. 

Judge John Lasater reduced her bond to 10% of $50,000 despite objections from the prosecution.

Her attorney, Gabe Crocker, told 5 On Your Side she has posted her bond and is on house arrest with GPS monitoring. 

"She has cooperated with law enforcement investigation understands the seriousness of the allegations and looks forward to putting this matter behind her," Crocker said.

Crocker also told the judge as part of his argument to reduce the bond that the act was consensual and did not involve threats, force or compulsion. 

As part of her bond, she can not go on the Vianney campus or have any communication with the victim through third parties or social media.

In April, the school sent a letter to parents saying Foerstel was removed from the campus and is "no longer employed as the school nurse and assistant to the athletic department."

"Upon receiving the report, we immediately contacted the Missouri Department of Social Services and Kirkwood Police Department," the letter said. "The school is fully cooperating with these authorities and their investigation."

The letter said Foerstel violated the school's social media policy by privately communicating with students.

Credit: St. Louis County PD
Erin Foerstel.

Editor's note: A previous version of this story had a headline stating the nurse had sex with a student. The headline has since been corrected to say she had sexual contact with the student.

For more information about the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, click here. You may also find additional information about child abuse, neglect investigations and family assessments, here.

DSS strongly encourages anyone who suspects child abuse or neglect to call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-392-3738. The Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline is answered 24 hours a day, every day, all year round.

Call the 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at 800-25-ABUSE (800-252-2873) if you suspect that a child has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed by abuse or neglect. If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm, call 911 first.

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