Alleged Teacher-Student Affairs Receive Media Coverage 

In recent news an increasing amount of attention is being paid to teachers who have been accused of romantic involvement with their students. Some instances have become household names, as in the nationally publicized case of Mary Kay Letourneau, whose affair with her 13-year-old student culminated in a seven year prison sentence for statutory rape as well as a Lifetime movie called "All-American Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story" and a book contract. Unfortunately for many of these cases, the individuals involved are tried in the court of public opinion prior to ever having a fair and impartial jury trial. We as the American public and consumers of the media should remember that by our court system, everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and recognizable legal representation is the best defense for teachers who are accused of inappropriate conduct since the situation is frequently scandalized by an often intolerant media.

Allegations and instances of teacher-student relationships have recently gained attention here in the state of Tennessee as well, with the case of Pamela Rogers from McMinnville Tennessee concluding in 2005. The formal charge for teacher and student sexual relationships in Tennessee is Statutory Rape by an Authority Figure, which, if the teacher is convicted of the same, constitutes a Class C Felony carrying a three to fifteen year prison sentence without the option of probation, as well as a maximum fine of 10,000 dollars. An even more recent instance of allegations of a relationship between a teacher and a student has emerged in Fentress County with a teacher from Alvin C. York Institute, a case which has made local news and rapidly spread to various media immediately following the teacher’s indictment.

To read News Channel Five’s report of this developing case in Fentress County and/or to see a video clip of the same, go to: http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=11410517

From the desk of Lane Cryar