A Muscle Shoals police officer testified Monday that he found two people scrambling to get dressed inside a car parked behind a school in 2009.

One of those people was Amanda Watkins, who at the time was a teacher at Sheffield Junior High School. The other was a 15-year-old student in the Sheffield school system.

Watkins, 39, was charged with second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy. Her trial got under way Monday in Colbert County Circuit Court.

Danny Mcmillin, a Muscle Shoals police officer who responded to the report of a suspicious vehicle parked behind Covenant Christian School on Dec. 19, 2009, was the only witness who testified Monday.

Mcmillin testified that as he approached the vehicle, the female passenger was moving from the back seat to the front while appearing to be pulling up her pants. The male in the back seat also appeared to be putting on his pants.

When he asked for identification from the couple, Watkins showed Mcmillin her driver’s license. Mcmillin said when he asked the male for his license, the teenager said he did not have one and instead showed him a Sheffield Middle School identification card.

Watkins taught eighth-grade English at the school. The student was in the ninth grade and not in Watkins’ class. She was fired from her job in January 2010.

Mcmillin testified that when he asked Watkins if she had sex with the teen, she nodded her head to indicate yes.

During questioning by defense attorney Ralph Holt, Mcmillin said Watkins appeared concerned about the teen.

The police officer testified that Watkins said, “I don’t want him to get in trouble. I don’t want him charged with rape.”

While being questioned by Colbert County District Attorney Bryce Graham Jr., Mcmillin testified the teen was not suspected of raping Watkins.

Watkins has pleaded not guilty by reason of severe mental disease or defect.

During his opening statement, Holt told jurors the evidence will show Watkins was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of her acts.

“All the evidence will show she has a severe mental illness,” Holt said.

Assistant District Attorney Angela Hulsey told jurors the evidence will show that Watkins was thinking clearly at the time of her arrest.

The trial continues at 9 a.m. today with Muscle Shoals Police detective Capt. Lanny Coan and a psychiatrist hired by the defense expected to be among the witnesses.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 256-740-5746 or dennis.sherer@TimesDaily.com.