A special prosecutor has been selected in a sexual assault case involving a former Gurdon High School teacher and one of his pupils.

Court records released this week indicate that Aaron Douglas Cupp had an inappropriate relationship with a student in 2017. The allegations surfaced in May 2021 when the student told detectives with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office that Cupp “forced her to have sexual intercourse” following a sports banquet.

Cupp, now 30, is being charged with first-degree sexual assault. He was 26 at the time of the allegations. His employment with Gurdon Public Schools has since been terminated. The victim in the case was 17 at the time of the alleged misconduct. An affidavit filed by Sgt. Sherry Cleek, criminal investigator, states that the victim informed law enforcement that Cupp had requested via text message that she meet him “to discuss her future.”

The two reportedly met at an undisclosed location in Clark County.

John “Jack” McQuary of Benton has been tapped to represent the state in the case. Following Cupp’s June arrest and release, Clark County Prosecutor Dan Turner filed a request waiving representation of the state on grounds of “unavoidable conflict” because an attorney at his practice is representing Cupp’s estranged spouse in a civil matter.