MERIDIAN - Officials say a southwestern Idaho middle school teacher was caught with a 13-year-old boy in Meridian Thursday night behind some bushes.

Police say the 37-year-old teacher at Meridian Middle School, Ashley Jo Beach, has been having a sexual relationship with the 13-year-old for several months.

Meridian Police says Beach was arrested for lewd conduct with a child under 16.

Officers received a call of suspicious circumstances around 9:30 p.m. Thursday night in the area of Cherry Lane and Vineyards, which is a few blocks away from the school.

When they arrived they found Beach and the boy laying down between the bushes and a fence, partially concealed from view. The officers questioned both of them but found several inconsistencies in their explanations of why they were there.

Police say the relationship began in April and lasted until Thursday night. According to the middle school's website, Beach taught math and science.