Shawn Ebersold, 33, a former science teacher at Pioneer Westfield High School in Westfield, Wisconsin pleaded no contest Monday to charges arising from allegations that in 2004 he had sexually explicit Internet chat conversations with a female student who was 16 or 17-years-old at the time.

Ebersold was placed under a deferred prosecution agreement for a period of two years.

If he completes psychological counseling and commits no crimes during that period the charge against him will be changed to contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

If he violates the terms of the agreement, the offense will remain communicating a harmful description or narrative account of a sexual nature to a child, a felony offense that includes punishment up to three and a half years in prison.

References:

Former Westfield teacher pleads no contest to sex chat with student (1/29/08)

Court reinstates case of teacher who sent student sexual messages (10/26/07)

Cynthia M. Rynard, 33, a former English teacher at Martinsville High School, in Martinsville, Indiana has been sentenced to 18 months probation after pleading guilty to one count of dissimilating matter harmful to a minor.

Rynard was originally charged with child seduction on allegations that she performed oral sex on one of her male students in November 2006. In court she admitted to performing a lewd act “in the presence” of the boy.

Rynard’s attorney requested a sentence with no jail time other than the 4 days she had already served. The prosecution asked for the maximum sentence possible.

The judge sentenced Rynard to 18 months in jail and then suspended all of the sentence except that portion which Rynard had already served; 8 days, 4 days in jail and 4 days of “good time credit”. Rynard will also be on probation for 18 months, was ordered to continue her counseling, not to have any contact with the victim or his family.

Reference:

Rynard gets 8 months probation (1/26/08)

Sentencing hearing continued (12/03/07)

Female Teacher Accused Of Having Sex With Student (2/15/07)

Teacher charged with child seduction (2/15/07)

(6/06/07 – Initial BBT Report)

Troy Michael Bernard, 35, and a teacher at Montgomery Middle School in Le Sueur County, Minnesota has been charged with first degree criminal sexual conduct for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old student.

Bernard, who was the girl’s volleyball coach, allegedly began the relationship with the girl last summer when she was 14-years-old.

The Le Sueur County sheriff’s department first became aware of Bernard’s alleged conduct near the end of May when a county child protection worker brought the relationship to light.

A Sheriff’s deputy spoke to the girl’s mother, who acknowledged that she was aware of the relationship and had told her daughter not to see Bernard again. She also said she had confronted Bernard and he admitted that he’d had sex with her daughter.

The girl’s mother allegedly discovered the relationship last month when she checked her daughter’s cell phone and discovered text messages between her daughter and Bernard.

Bernard, during a phone call from the girl’s mother, allegedly admitted that he had sex with the girl. The mother made the call at the request of police, who were listening in on the call.

Bernard is being held on $100,000 bail.

6/19/07 – Search For More Victims

The Le Sueur County Sheriff’s office is investigating calls regarding other possible victims. See reference below.

10/23/07 – Guilty Plea

Troy Michael Bernard pleaded guilty to first degree criminal sexual conduct, for having an almost year long sexual relationship with a female student.

Bernard entered the plea Monday before his trial was to begin in Le Sueur County District Court. His lawyer indicated that Bernard did not want the victim testifying in open court.

Bernard faces up to a maximum of 12 years in prison at his January 8th sentencing. Prior to the sentencing he will undergo a psychological evaluation as part of the pre-sentence investigation.

1/25/08 – Sentencing

Troy Bernard was today sentenced to 12 years in prison the result of his October guilty plea to first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The prosecutor indicated that Bernard would have to serve at least 8 years of his term before becoming eligible for parole.

References:

Teacher gets max sentence in sex case (1/26/08)

Coach Sentenced to 12 Years for Sexual Misconduct (1/25/08)

Former teacher gets 12 years in prison for sex with student (1/25/08)

Former teacher gets 12 years in prison for sex with student (1/25/08)

Former Montgomery-Lonsdale teacher pleads guilty to sexual contact with student (10/22/07)

There may be more victims in teacher sex case

Montgomery teacher charged with sex crime (Later report, more info)

Teacher charged with having sex with a student

Teacher, Coach Charged With Sexual Misconduct