Posted on 02/19/2009 7:31:33 AM PST by TornadoAlley3
(Baton Rouge) - A former Belaire High School art teacher was put on probation after pleading guilty Tuesday to charges that accused her of having off-campus sex with a 15-year-old male student in the fall 2007.
State District Judge Todd Hernandez actually sentenced 29-year-old Kesha D. Manuel to eight years in prison at hard labor on a felony charge of cruelty to a juvenile and six months in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a misdemeanor charge of carnal knowledge of a juvenile, but suspended both terms.
Hernandez put Manuel on active supervised probation for five years on the felony charge. During that time period, the judge said Manuel cannot have any contact with the victim and cannot be employed or engaged in volunteer work that involves anyone under 17.
The judge placed Manuel on unsupervised bench probation for two years on the misdemeanor charge.
Manuel’s attorney, Bob Hester, said afterward the matter with the student was an “isolated incident.’’
Manuel admitted she and the boy met at a public library in October 2007 and had sex in a stall in the women’s restroom, according to an affidavit of probable cause. She also admitted allowing the boy to kiss and fondle her in her classroom during free periods, the affidavit said.
Hester said it doesn’t make what Manuel did right, but noted the boy was very aggressive and continued to send her notes, letters and poems even after their conduct came to light.
Manuel pleaded no contest last fall to a felony charge of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. She withdrew that plea Tuesday.
Prosecutor Sue Bernie told Hernandez the victim’s father agreed with the amended charges filed against Manuel and with the stipulated sentences.
Hester said outside the courtroom that a felony carnal knowledge conviction would have required Manuel, who has a 2-year-old daughter, to register as a convicted sex offender.
Manuel can never teach again, he said.
eight years in prison at hard labor on a felony charge of cruelty to a juvenile
Either the judge is stupid or the reporter is because there is no such thing as hard labor in prison now days. There would be law suits flying for anything more stressful than making them pick up trash along the highway.
The Institute appreciates your research.
You know something, hot, criminally minded female teachers? As captain of the wrestling team as well as valedictorian in high school, I really could have used your help with the stress.
Not guilty. There is no evidence of guilt.
I suppose we ARE supposed to assume innocence until proven guilty...
We're talking Louisiana here bgill ... their system is quite a bit different than the other 56 states. It's not based on English Common Law but is based on a combo of Spanish / French and old Roman law.
As far as "No hard labor" .. the Louisiana State Pen ... Angola .. "The Farm" is still a working farm .. so the inmates there probably don't agree with your assessment.
A man would have gotten jail time, and worse.
Justice is blind? BS.
I've spent a LOT of time at the public library over the decades.
I must admit this has not been my experience.
TTIWWP
Haven’t seen a picture of this one. Saw a couple of others that were “hot”. Where were these teachers when I was 15?
Sex predators with a penis get jail.
Sex predators with vaginas get probation.
They ALL should get jail. Women would be screaming if male sex predators just got probation. They have no such outrage if a female sex predator is allowed to continue to be able to remain free.
Real objective.
I agree all my teachers were either male or looked like Albright.
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