A 52-year-old Covington County teacher has been charged with two counts of school employee having sexual contact with a student under the age of 19.

Thomas Edwin Gamble, 52, of Red Level, was charged on Thursday.

Sheriff’s investigators received a report of a possible sexual assault through the Covington County DHR office last week. The victim is a Straughn Middle School student. The sheriff’s department notified the board of education, and Gamble was immediately placed on administrative leave during the investigation.

Investigators determined that Gamble on at least two occasions had sexual contact with the teen against her will. Gable allegedly touched and grabbed the victim inappropriately. The alleged incidents occurred in Gamble’s classroom during school hours. The incidents were crimes of opportunity, investigators said, and were limited to inappropriate touching.

Gamble has abeen a teacher for 10 years, all of which has been at Straughn. He is a special needs teacher who generally works with other teachers in the classroom, but also reads and proctors exams and make-up work with middle schoolers.

The charges against Gamble are Class A misdemeanors. Bond was set at $30,000. Each charge is punishable by up to one year in jail. If convicted, Gamble would be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.