Posted on 07/31/2002 5:04:28 AM PDT by Temple Owl
Tuesday, July 30, 2002 1:41PM EDT
Mackie sentenced
By ANNE SAKER, STAFF WRITER
A Wake County judge sentenced a former English teacher to at least eight months in prison today for having sex with a student in 2000. Betty Mackie, who taught in the Wake County schools for 18 years, is scheduled to report to court tomorrow, and she then will begin her sentence.
Prosecutor Howard Cummings told Judge Donald Stephens that Mackie, who was renowned for her teaching skills, took the student under her wing during his seventh-grade year at Ligon Middle School.
At first, the student's parents were thrilled that Mackie had taken an interest in their son's education. One day in June 2000, Cummings said, Mackie invited the student to help her move some computers. She picked him up at his house and instead took him to her home in North Raleigh, where they had sex. Cummings also said Mackie tried in the months afterward to see the boy again, but he refused. Not until April of this year did his parents learn of what had happened. At that point, Mackie was arrested.
Joseph Cheshire, Mackie's lawyer, pleaded with Stephens that while there was no excuse for her actions, Mackie has suffered for years from bipolar disorder, which can trigger inappropriate behavior including risky sexual activity. Cheshire told the judge there was no punishment greater than the shame and humiliation Mackie feels for her actions.
Stephens then sentenced Mackie to eight to 10 months in prison and said, "This is a sad day for everyone."
M,kay
Some years ago a friend of mine telephoned me and was obviously distraught. He asked if I could come over and talk with him for a while. When I got there he led me to a trunk filled with some pretty risque and provocative female costumery and assorted sexually related objests. He said that his wife was leaving him and he had just discovered these items. It turned out that his wife had recently been diagnosed with a bipolar disorder and was not handling the diagnosis well. She told my friend that she was addicted to sex with strangers and enjoyed her addiction.
She did not want to comply with the advised treatment, i.e. various medications prescribed. This was a woman who was making about $400K per annum as a consultant with two well adjusted boys and she walked. Who'd of thunk it?
Having racing thoughts
Being so easily distracted that your attention shifts between many topics in just a few minutes
Having an inflated feeling of power, greatness, or importance
Doing reckless things without concern about possible bad consequences-such as spending too much money, inappropriate sexual activity, making foolish business investments.
Answers to frequently asked questions about Bipolar Disorder
HOWEVER...blaming her bipolar disorder for child molestation is ridiculous...she is playing the "victim" to get out of the consequences of her actions. It is another symptom of the disease...a "IT'S NOT MY FAULT THAT (INSERT WHATEVER)" syndrome. Usually these same people also have the "(SO AND SO)IS OUT TO GET ME" syndrome as well. Believe me, I know...my daughter is bipolar and this drives me nuts! She has lost two jobs in the last two weeks due to insubordination, but of course it's not HER fault...yeah right. Geez...somehow I have managed my bipolar disorder all these years (it IS genetic) without doing the blame game...I just don't understand people that do not take responsibility for themselves. Good grief...they should get treatment or something if they are that bad off, manic symptoms are easily recognizable by the individual and others they associate with.
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.