A teacher at Mt. Nebo Junior High School who works with troubled kids was arrested on Monday and charged with having sexual relations with a 16-year-old boy, who was not her student. Her husband was charged with threatening them both with a handgun.

According to court documents, 32-year-old Jennifer Candida Gonzales contacted Payson police and told them her husband pointed a 9mm handgun at her and threatened to kill her after he caught her cheating on him with a 16-year-old boy. He also pointed his gun at the teen and told him to get out of the house, she told police.

Gonzales's husband, 31-year-old Richard Gonzales, admitted to the allegations, court documents said. The couple lives in Payson.

According to court documents, Richard Gonzales came home early from work and found his wife and the teen downstairs with candles and oils. He told police he saw the teen run into a bathroom while pulling his pants up. His wife, who was topless, pulled her pants up as well, he told police.

Jennifer Gonzales was booked into the Utah County Jail on charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a 16-year-old and sexual relations with a youth. Richard Gonzales was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault with domestic violence, and criminal mischief.

Jennifer Gonzales teaches sixth- and seventh-graders in Mt. Nebo Junior High School's Cornerstone Unit, an alternative program for students with behavioral problems. The Cornerstone Unit is separate from the rest of the Payson school.

Nebo School District spokeswoman Lana Hiskey said Gonzales is on paid leave pending the outcome of her case. Gonzales has worked at the school since 2005.

"Until it's investigated further here at the district level, she will not be back to work," Hiskey said. "We just take this kind of thing very seriously."

Hiskey said the alleged incident did not occur at the school, and the 16-year-old was not one of Gonzales's students.

Police interviewed the 16-year-old boy, who said he gave Jennifer Gonzales a massage, but the two did not have sexual intercourse.

Jennifer and Richard Gonzales could not be reached for comment. According to the Utah County Jail Web site, Jennifer Gonzales was released Tuesday afternoon on $10,000 bail.

• Jeremy Duda can be reached at 344-2561 or jduda@heraldextra.com.