Posted on 03/29/2006 1:34:49 PM PST by ncountylee
NEW HAMPTON A high school teacher guilty of making advances on a student via the Internet received a five-year suspended sentence today and must register as a sex offender.
Lee Ayers, 50, initially was charged in October with sexual exploitation by a school employee, a Class D felony. The former social studies teacher pleaded guilty in January. He will be on probation for two to five years.
A judge today in Chickasaw County District Court also sentenced Ayers, a former basketball and volleyball coach, to pay a $1,000 fine, seek mental health counseling and to receive a substance abuse evaluation.
The maximum penalty for Ayer's offense is five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
Ayers was a 20-year veteran at New Hampton High School. He sought the female student on hi5, a Web site designed for people to meet friends and build relationships, according to County Attorney Patrick Wegman. The site primarily serves teenagers and young adults.
According to court documents, Ayers joined the site and posted personal information, including his name and picture. The interactive site, which anyone with an e-mail address can join, also lets users create a profile listing their hometown, birthday, workplace and favorite movies, foods and songs.
Ayers found the unidentified girl's profile and sent her a message seeking a sexual relationship, according to records. The girl reported the incident to police, and Ayers was charged. He resigned from the high school.
"He never tried to deny anything," Wegman said previously.
Ayers could not be reached for comment.
Another suspended sentence. Wonder if he was considered hot?
He should be executed.
No, not really. But given my opinion that hot women teachers should be set free, I guess it only follows that male teachers should be harshly punished.
nope.
Yup.
If you want to see double standard, check out the posts on threads about the LeFave (or is it just Fave) case. The general attitude seems to be if the perp is female and hot, then it's just fine for them to have sex.
Yup.
Exxxcccellllennntt!
You should run for Howie Dean's job, Rod.;)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.