A traffic stop Saturday in Madison County led to an investigation of a Madison County Schools employee who was then charged with sex crimes against a 15-year-old student who was in the car with her.

Deputies conducted a traffic stop of Makayla Ann Anderton, 26, on Highway 72 and Shields Road, on Saturday at about 11:45 p.m., the Madison County Sheriff’s Office said.

The minor, a student in Madison County schools, was a passenger in the vehicle.

The Sheriff’s Office said Anderton was charged with numerous sex crimes against the juvenile that took place over the past two months.

Anderton began engaging the victim in conversations that became sexual in nature, the sheriff’s office said. The victim and suspect then exchanged numerous photographs, videos and explicit text messages, the sheriff’s office said.

Anderton also met the victim several times and engaged in various sex acts, the sheriff’s office said.

On April 20, Major Crimes detectives for the sheriff’s office arrested Anderton and booked her into the Madison County Jail Facility. Anderton was charged with the following charges:

School employee distributing obscene material to a student, rape, 2nd degree statutory; sodomy, second degree; and school employee engaged in a sex act or deviant sexual intercourse with a student under the age of 19.

Anyone with information regarding the case or who believes they know or are the victim of a similar assault is encouraged to call the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (256) 533-8820.