A former Aiken County middle school teacher was arrested Monday on charges of lewd acts and criminal sexual conduct with a 14-year-old girl. The arrest was the second of a former or current Aiken County educator in as many weeks on sex charges.

Joseph Jay Magni Jr., 28, of Lexington, S.C., is charged with five counts of criminal sexual conduct and five counts of a lewd act, Aiken County sheriff's Sgt. Dave Myers said in a news release.

Incidents took place at Aiken Mall Cinemas in May and June, according to the reports. The investigation also found Mr. Magni sexually assaulted the 14-year-old girl at Leavelle McCampbell Middle School in Graniteville, Sgt. Myers said.

The victim was a student in Aiken County before she moved to Columbia to live with her father, said Richland County sheriff's Lt. Chris Cowan. The sheriff's department began its investigation Sept. 23 when the victim's father told investigators he believed Mr. Magni was traveling to Columbia to have a relationship with his daughter, Lt. Cowan said. Investigators turned the case over to Aiken County this week.

Mr. Magni now faces a charge of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the second degree in Richland County.

Mr. Magni taught social studies at Leavelle McCampbell as a first-year teacher last year, said Cecelia Davidson, the Aiken County Schools associate superintendent for administration. His contract was not renewed at the end of the school year, she said.

"We had no knowledge of any complaints of this nature during his time here," Dr. Davidson said. "His not returning to employment was completely separate."

Another Leavelle McCampbell educator, Tammy Joy Key, 38, of Graniteville, was charged with four counts of a lewd act and four counts of criminal sexual conduct with a 14-year-old former student on Oct. 20. The Graniteville woman is accused of having sex with a 14-year-old boy at her home and at Leavelle McCampbell, where she teaches math, between 2005 and 2006, Sgt. Myers said. She is on administrative leave with pay, Dr. Davidson said. She was released on bond the night of her arrest.

The two arrests in such a short period are "very unusual," Sgt. Myers said.

"I feel like this is a coincidence since the incidents are years apart," he said.

Dr. Davidson said the school system would not investigate Leavelle McCampbell.

"These are personal issues; there's no investigation as far as the school is concerned," she said.

Mr. Magni is being held in the Aiken County Detention Center on $100,000 bond, according to a jail official.

Reach Stephanie Toone at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.