The case of a former Moon Area teacher who is charged with having sex with a 14-year-old student is headed to Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

Beth Ann Chester, 26, yesterday waived her right to a preliminary hearing before District Judge Mary P. Murray in Coraopolis.

At the hearing, prosecutors withdrew three counts of sexual abuse of children, but added five other charges, including one count each of statutory sexual assault, indecent deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault and two counts of aggravated indecent assault.

She faces six other charges, including two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors, criminal solicitation and criminal use of a communication system.

Her formal arraignment is scheduled for March 13.

Mrs. Chester, who was a ninth-grade health and physical education teacher, sent the boy nude photos of herself and lurid text messages about his body, according to police.

Police said she later confessed to having a sexual encounter with the boy.

Mrs. Chester submitted her resignation Dec. 28, citing personal reasons, before Moon Area School District officials became aware of any allegations. After the allegations came to light, the school board voted last week to terminate her employment.

Mrs. Chester left the district judge's offices without speaking to reporters.

Her attorney, Robert Del Greco Jr., said the newest charges involve the same person and "relatively" the same episode.

Mr. Del Greco described his client as "distraught." He said she has sought counseling and is in treatment.

He said she is trying to do the right thing by seeking counseling, being terminated from her teaching job without a hearing and waiving the case into court without testimony from the student.