Female Teacher Convicted of Performing Oral Sex On Male Student; Avoids Jail, Keeps Teaching Creds

Female Teacher Convicted of Performing Oral Sex On Male Student; Avoids Jail, Keeps Teaching Creds
by Scott Faith

This article first appeared in The Havok Journal 7 August 2018.

Continuing a rather disturbing national trend, a female teacher in New Jersey was recently convicted of having sex with one of her underage male students. This, unfortunately, is not uncommon these days.  What is drawing headlines and raising eyebrows is the prison time… or lack thereof.

Prosecutors asked for two years’ imprisonment and revocation of her teaching certificate as punishment for performing oral sex “multiple times, in multiple locations” with a 14-year-old student, offenses which she initially denied. But instead, the judge in the case decided for ten years of probation, this after he moved the sentencing up a full day in order to spare the perpetrator the “embarrassment” of a media circus. And despite the fact that she will have to register as a sex offender the rest of her life… she gets to keep her ability to teach. That’s right, the judge decided that despite committing felonious sex crimes while in a position of authority over vulnerable and impressionable young students, she gets to retain her future ability to put others in a similar situation.

In light of the punishment for some male teachers convicted of similar offenses, the sentence seems rather light. Actually, I take that back. It seems outrageous that especially now in the #MeToo era, a sexual predator would be able to retain the ability to prey again. In explaining the outcome, the defense attorney in the case claimed his client is “…a talented teacher and has those skills, and I don’t see any reason to destroy her ability to make a living and to contribute to society in a positive way.”

Wow.  You mean like all of the “positivity” she’s already contributed?

“There is a possibility that she could teach adults now or in the future and we want to preserve that possibility,” he continued.

Um, what exactly is she going to teach them, Counselor?

 

Scott Faith is a veteran of a half-dozen combat deployments and has served in several different Special Operations units over the course of his Army career. Scott’s writing focuses largely on veterans’ issues, but he is also a big proponent of Constitutional rights and has a deep interest in politics. He often allows other veterans who request anonymity to publish their work under his byline. Scott welcomes story ideas and feedback on his articles, and can be reached at havokjournal@havokmedia.com.