Crime & Safety

Wisconsin Teacher Accused of Sexual Relationship with Marion Teen Getting Divorced

More details have been released in the case of Shannon Cardinal, the 43-year-old high school teacher from Mayville, Wisconsin that allegedly had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old Marion boy.

Shannon Cardinal, the 43-year-old Mayville, WI, high school teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old Marion boy, filed for divorce on Feb. 29, according to court documents.

This is after the alleged affair had begun.

Cardinal's next door neighbor told The Daily Mail of the divorce and noted that Cardinal has three children. She expressed her concern for what this incident means for other high school students.

Find out what's happening in Marionwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It's very appalling," said neighbor Tracy Borchard. "I'm concerned about the teens that are going to school and what's going on with the teachers and the trust for our children."

Cardinal allegedly hid her relationship with the teen, which police say started when he was 16, by driving him to her home after school. When he moved to Marion last March, she allegedly visited him when his parents were out of town, according to The Daily Mail report.

It was boy's older sister who first discovered the alleged relationship and alerted her parents.

Find out what's happening in Marionwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

What's more, the two apparently decided to forgo birth control. According to court documents obtained by The Daily Mail, the teen said he was not worried that Cardinal would get pregnant because she is "kind of old."

The teacher with six counts each of sexual assault and child enticement and may face charges in Iowa in addition to a possible 186 years in prison if convicted in Wisconsin.

Related Coverage:


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Marion