A student and teacher relationship can greatly impact a student’s education and their future. Many students have close relationships with teachers, which can include one-on-one student tutoring. It may not be unusual for a student to be alone after school with a teacher to received tutoring assistance.
A New Jersey teacher who had been tutoring a student after school was recently accused of taking the relationship too far. The teacher was accused of engaging in an intimate relationship with the minor student. The teacher now faces charges of sexual offense for the allegations surrounding her relationship with the individual.
The New Jersey teacher had been providing regular tutoring sessions to one of her students after school. The teacher is a 26-year-old female and the student is a 16-year-old male. It is alleged that during the tutoring sessions, the teacher and student began having sexual encounters on more than one occasion. An investigation into the allegations claims that these actions took place twice. The first encounter allegedly occurred at school and included intimate touching. The second encounter occurred at the teacher’s house where intercourse allegedly occurred.
There is no evidence the teacher coerced or physically forced the student to engage in the claimed sexual encounters. One major issue involving sex crimes is often the issue of consent, however when it comes to minors, different rules are at play. If the intercourse occurred, even if the student consented, the teacher could be convicted.
The teacher faces criminal charges of sexual assault, child endangerment, child luring and enticement, two charges of official misconduct and two charges of criminal sexual contact. The teacher has been released on a $100,000 bond. If the teacher is convicted, the charges against the teacher could carry a sentence of 10 years in prison. Even if the incident does not result in jail time, any conviction could affect the teacher’s ability to earn a living in their profession. Presenting a strong defense is not only important in terms of their case but their career as well.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Kristin Leone Arrested: Clifton High School Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student,” May 10, 2012