Laura Kirkland
Posted by Webmaster in Church Schools, Daycare or Pre-School, FE-MV, Hall of Shame, Missouri
(07/25/08 – Initial BBT Report)
Laura Kirkland, 25, a fifth-grade teacher at Christian Schools of Springfield, in Springfield, Missouri has been arrested on charges of rape and sodomy of a now 11-year-old boy, who she baby sat and allegedly sexually abused for two years.
Kirkland is charged with two counts of statutory sodomy with a person less than 14 years old and one count of statutory rape with a person less than 14 years old.
It is alleged that Kirkland had sexual intercourse and oral sex with the boy repeatedly for two years when the boy was between 8 to 10 years old. All the the alleged incident are said to have taken place in Kirkland’s home and when she was baby sitting the alleged victim.
Bond for Kirkland was set at $75,000 and conditioned upon her having no contact with the victim or any child under 17 and she may not be anywhere children congregate. Reportedly Kirkland had not made bail as of Thursday evening.
Media reports indicate that Kirkland has been employed by the school for three years and in addition to working at the school, Kirkland also worked at a day care facility.
09/05/08 – Court Appearance
Laura Kirkland has made her initial court appearance and entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.
Police say the woman admitted to performing oral sex on the minor three times, and having sex with him twice.
Kirkland’s next court appearance is set for December 2nd.
10/05/08 – Bond Reduced
On Friday, a judge reduced the bond for Laura Kirkland from $75,000 to $25,000.
Reportedly Kirkland’s parents were working Friday afternoon to secure her released on bond. Kirkland has been jailed since her arrest.
Kirkland’s next court appearance is set for October 31st.
11/16/09 – Guilty Plea
On October 27, Laura Kirkland pleaded guilty in Greene County court on allegations of having a sexual relationship with a young boy.
A news media report indicates that Kirkland pleaded guilty to a charge of second degree statutory sodomy.
However, online court records indicated that she entered guilty pleas to Statutory Sodomy and to Statutory Rape charges, with both counts in the 1st degree.
Sentencing is set for January 15th before judge Calvin R. Holden
I would like to thank “Pikaia”, whose comment notified us of the latest developments in this case – webmaster
01/25/10 – Sentencing
Laura Kirkland has been sentenced.
One the first-degree statutory sodomy and first-degree statutory rape count, she received a 14-year prison sentence which was suspended and she was placed on probation.
On the second-degree statutory sodomy countshe was sentenced to seven years in prison and no probation.
A prosecutor estimates Kirkland likely will serve three to five years of that sentence before being paroled.
References:
Former babysitter, family friend gets seven-year prison term for molesting boys (01/25/10)
Springfield woman given jail time on sex charges (01/25/10)
Former Teacher and Daycare Worker Sentenced for Raping Boy (01/25/10)
Kirkland Pleads Guilty to Sex with Student (10/29/09)
Judge allows lower bond in sex case (10/04/08)
Woman charged with sexually abusing boy she baby-sat (09/05/08)
Woman faces charges of having sex with boy (07/25/08)
Day-care worker accused of raping boy (07/25/08)
Woman Charged with Statutory Rape (07/24/08)
Babysitter is accused of having sex with 10-year-old boy (07/23/08)
Charging documents in the case of Laura Kirkland are available in ‘PDF format’ by Clicking Here or Here.
Entries (RSS)
Can someone tell me why I never had a babysitter like Laura Kirkland? This is proof positive that life is so unfair.
Right on!
Dont worry your kids might
In keeping with site policies as outlined in the “Comments” page the last name of the person purported to have left this comment has been altered to an initial only by the site moderator.
that first case was horrid and the wonder that she will get out in 3 to 4 is amazing…but if the victims family agree with the deal…so must i
I think it is horrifing that she only received 7 years!!!!! Families and CHILDREN trusted her. It makes my stomach turn
I am a student at csos and I have met Laura several times. She seemed like a very nice woman. I am horrified and dissappointed that she would do something like that. I hope she asks Jesus for forgiveness and that God may have mercy if it is His Will.
Should she be allowed to be online?
Thank you Webmaster
I actually did not look for the COURT RECORDS, my fault. Obviously the news media were wrong and me too. So she pleaded guilty to charges belonging to the two cases.
The original case is very very serious, I hope she get in January a very hard sentence.
Yes, the earlier case is very serious in that it involves what is unquestionably a child victim far below the age of consent. Such crimes call for some serious prison time, even in those instances where the accused entered a guilty plea instead of forcing the victim to testify at trial.
The latter case, with a 16-year-old victim, is at the opposite end of the scale and often results in little if any prison time when the accused pleads guilty or no contest.
Webmaster the info and links of Laura Kirkland are unclear: there are TWO unrelated and separated cases.
The original case (2008) involved a young boy 8-10 years old who she babysat from 2006 to 2008. All the links you brought here belongs to this case (most are broken) and is already pendent. The info updated to this case is all about the bond.
Here appears a not guilty plea (Jul 26 2008).
http://www.ky3.com/news/local/25922384.html
A SECOND CASE (2009) involved a 16 years old student in a Springfield school, this case was brought here by “Anon” comment. She was chargued and first entered a not guilty plea in April (Link 1). Lately she entered a guilty plea (Link 2). The sentence in January.
http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=135171
http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=200192
Webmaster’s reply:
The online COURT RECORDS indicate that on 10/27/09 Kirkland pleaded guilty on both sets of charges.
The earlier case is case #0831-CR05458 was filed on 07/23/2008. That set of charges was replaced with 0831-CR05458-01 on 08/28/08. This is the case in which the court records indicate Kirkland pleaded guilty to BOTH a charge of 1st degree statutory rape and 1st degree statutory sodomy.
The latter case is case #0931-CR00681 which was filed on 02/03/09 and updated to case #0931-CR00681-01 on 03/19/2009. That case was for a single count of 2nd degree statutory sodomy.
The newspaper reports picked up on the plea to the 2nd degree count and by extension linked it to the earlier counts reporting the charges are being exclusively 2nd degree statutory sodomy counts when in reality the court records indicate otherwise.
When news media reports conflict with online court records our policy has always been to go with what is listed in the court records and that is the case here.
Update in the case of the 16 yo student in Springfield school.
She entered a guilty plea to second degree statutory sodomy. She will be sentenced in January. No more info.
http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=200192
Sorry, for silly lil nicky. Your friend is sick and dangerous.
The system works this way:
In the firs hearing she enter a not guilty plea of all the charges, and then her lawyer can see the statements (hers, victims, psychologists, etc), physical evidence (letters, DNA, etc). A statement to the police can be rejected, you can adduce mental/medical problems or lenient circunstances (drugs abuse, sex abuse n her childhood)… In any case, this is the moment to reach a deal with the prosecutor, avoiding a trial for the victim (now 11 yo) and his parents, dropping some chargues or bargaining the sentence. Then she will enter a guilty plea. The judge usually (but not always) will agree the deal and will sentence her according to the prosecutor advocacy.
I know her family from my old church in Baton Rouge. I followed the links and saw everything but her signed sworn statement pertaining to what the officer said. I mean why would she enter a plea of not guilty if such a document existed?
She has been charged again in another case:
http://ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=135112
And here is the link to the Court docs from the first case:
http://www.news-leader.com/assets/pdf/DO113724724.PDF
all this (****) is not true i know laura and she is and awesome person and all this bull (****) needs to end she is my friend and im hear to support her so i find her not guilty
This comment has been edited by site moderator in accordance with site policies as outlined in the “Comments” page.