Nov 16, 2007 9:30 am US/Eastern
Teacher Sentenced For Sex Offense With Student
MARRIOTTSVILLE, Md. (WJZ) ―
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Kristin Ann Kinley is sentenced to 18 months in jail for having sexual contact with a student.
CBS
Kirsten Ann Kinley is now back behind bars at the Howard County Detention Center.
Peggy Lee reports the former teacher was sentenced to 18 months in prison for having sexual contact with a 15-year-old boy.
"We felt that incarceration was appropriate due to the nature of the offense and the age of the child involved in this case, and the fact that she, while not his teacher, had been a teacher and was fully aware of the age range of middle school and young high school students," said prosecutor Mary Murphy.
Kinley was arrested Feb. 12 and accused of sending text messages and explicit photos to the boy in late 2004 and early 2005 while teaching at Hammond Middle School.
Kinley pleaded guilty in August and avoided a trial. After sentencing, her attorney maintained jail time was unnecessary.
"I believe that an institution for incarceration should be reserved for the most dangerous in society, the reoffenders and the people who are dangerous to our society, and she clearly does not fit that category," said defense attorney Thomas Morrow.
Along with jail time, Kinley must register as a lifetime sex offender and receive counseling. She can't use the Internet without approval from her probation officer because prosecutors say she used the Internet to e-mail the explicit photos of herself to the teen.
"Additionally she agreed...to have the probation agent do random checks of any computer or device that can access the Internet," said Murphy.
Kinley's attorney also argued his client has substantial mental health issues that might not receive proper treatment if she were imprisoned.
A second boy also made claims against Kinley but would not cooperate with prosecutors.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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