Janelle Batkins
Posted by: Webmaster in FE-MV, Hall of Shame, High Schools, Language Arts, Michigan
(9/24/07 - Initial BBT Report)
Janelle Batkins, 42, of Harrison Township, Michigan, a former French teacher at Roseville High School and “Teacher of the Year in 2002″ has been arraigned on criminal sexual conduct charges today in a Clinton Township district court.
Batkins is charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and faces up to 30 year in prison if convicted of both counts. Following her arraignment she was released on a $25,000 personal bond. Batkins is prohibited from going onto the school grounds and prohibited from having contact with minors unrelated to her.
Batkins the married mother of two children, ages 14 and 21, allegedly had an affair with a 17-year-old male student from December until the end of the 2006-2007 school year. Reportedly the boy was the student ‘teacher’s aide’ in French class and graduated this past school year.
Batkins came to the attention of authorities in July after the boy’s mother found evidence of the relationship on her son’s computer. The boy has allegedly admitted to the sexual relationship and said that he consented to sexual activities in places like her home and a car in Roseville.
Reportedly Batkins who has taught in the school system for 15 years, resigned this past summer.
A preliminary exam in the case has been set for October 30th.
11/08/07 - Batkins Bound Over
Janelle Batkins will stand trial on nine counts of criminal sexual conduct involving the male student, who was serving as a teacher’s aide in her French class.
During a hearing today the alleged victim testified detailing the alleged sexual relationship between himself and Batkins. He testified that one of their sexual encounters was interrupted when Batkins son came home. The alleged victim, now 18, testified that he hid in Batkins bathroom.
District Court Judge Sebastian Lucido today amended the original charge of two counts of criminal sexual conduct to nine counts and bound Batkins’ case over to Macomb County Circuit Court.
Reportedly Batkins’ family, friends, former colleagues and students dressed in yellow, her favorite color, packed one side of the courtroom to support her.
11/19/07 - Pre-Trial Set
A pre-trail hearing has been set for December 13th for Janelle Batkins charged with nine counts of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree.
Judge Mark Switalski entered a not guilty plea for Batkins at today’s arraignment hearing.
05/30/08 - Not Contest Plea
Janelle has pleaded no contest to two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Batkins who will have to register as a sex offenders faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced July 2nd.
Batkins was originally charged with nine counts of criminal sexual conduct involving the male student. However as the trial date approached it is reported that the boy’s family did not want him to have to go through a trial, therefore prosecutors dropped all but two counts as part of the plea deal.
07/02/08 - Sentencing
Janelle Batkins was sentenced today to three years’ probation by Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Mark Switalski who indicated Batkins is “an ideal candidate for probation based on her lack of record and prior history”.
In addition to her probation Batkins must also complete 240 hours of community service, continue counseling and register as a sex offender.
Webmaster’s Op/Ed Comments:
Here again we see the “female discount” coming into play and the guilty party waltzing out of court with an extremely lenient sentence in comparison to what would have been levied upon a 42-year-old male teacher who pleads guilty on two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a 17-year-old student.
Certainly Batkins’ teaching career is over, however from reading the news report of her sentencing it is apparent that her husband, family, friends and former students and co-workers apparently consider Batkins some type of “victim” rather than the predator that her guilty pleas confirm that she is.
When Batkins attorney claims “This case was all about a bad statute … that doesn’t take into account who the initiator of the relationship is and who has control.” he conveniently overlooks the reality that a 42-year-old is supposed to be an adult, while a 17-year-old minor isn’t.
It is well beyond time that supposed adults starting acting like adults and that includes teachers, attorneys and judges in particular.
References:
No jail time for accused teacher (07/02/080)
Former Roseville teacher gets probation for sex with classroom aide (07/02/08)
Ex-Roseville teacher charged in sex case pleads no contest (05/30/08)
Former Teacher Pleads In Sex Case (05/30/08)
Ex-Roseville teacher accepts deal in student sex case (05/30/08)
Pre-trial date set for former teacher facing CSC charges (11/19/07)
Former student involved in teacher tryst testifies son interrupted (11/08/07)
Teacher accused of sex with student to stand trial (11/08/07)
Roseville teacher arraigned on charges of sex with student aide (9/24/07)
Criminal sexual conduct charges brought against former Roseville High teacher (9/24/07)
Roseville teacher arraigned after accusation of having sex with student (9/24/07)
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Entries (RSS)
August 26th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I would have LOVED to have her as a teacher!
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:52 pm
How infuriating that her co-workers (other teachers)would choose to go to court in support of someone that would do this to a student.No one can tell me that these teachers did not know that this would make it even more difficult on this victim.I guess they achieved their goal in getting the victim to not want to testify so their fellow teacher could get off with a slap on the wrist.These are the same people that will drone on and on about how much they care about their students and why they only went into teaching to help children.Of course you only hear that drivel when they are looking for a raise.