26-year old Nebraska teacher arrested for inappropriate relationship with student

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office on Monday arrested 26-year-old Cody Pester, a sixth-grade teacher and wrestling coach at Palmyra Jr. and Sr. School.

“We sometimes, in our professions, teachers, law enforcement, or in anything like this, we have a special responsibility, especially to the students, and this is why we made this arrest,” Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said at a press conference on Tuesday. “Sometimes, things that got violated, got violated in this case.”

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Authorities said the dating relationship between Pester and the victim, who is now 18 years old, began in May 2025, after she graduated from school.

In July, investigators said the relationship turned sexual. According to authorities, Pester and the victim exchanged more than 13,000 text messages.

Houchin said the crime happened in Lincoln, and that’s when the Lancaster County Sheriff’s office joined the investigation.

But, in Nebraska law, it’s legal for a school employee to engage in a relationship with a former student 90 days after graduation.

“So, she graduated in May, the relationship turned sexual in July, in the 90-day period, that’s when the violation occurred at this point in time,” Houchin said.

Following the teacher’s arrest, Palmyra schools sent a letter to parents and students stating that counseling services are available to students and that the district is fully cooperating with law enforcement.

The district and authorities are asking families or students with additional information to reach out to the sheriff’s office.