New York, May 21: A former high school teacher who appeared on the Good Morning America chat show has been sentenced to 13 years in jail after being convicted of having sex with a teenager. The Saline County Circuit Court found that the accused had multiple encounters with the student, estimated to be between 20 to 30 times.

According to the Independent report, the accused woman has been identified as Heather Hare (33). The court handed down the sentence on May 15, following charges that Hare transported a minor across state lines to engage in illegal sexual activities. Hare, who taught Family Consumer Science at Bryant High School in Bryant, Arkansas, initiated contact with the students during their senior year, leading to personal counselling sessions. US Teacher Erin Ward, Caught Having Sex With Teenage Student in Car, Married to Senior Defence Official: Report.

Teacher Jailed for Having Sex With Teen

Prosecutors revealed that Hare exchanged personal contact information with the student, including her phone number and social media handles, and disclosed her home address. The illicit relationship spanned over the 2021 and 2022 school years, with incidents occurring at Hare's residence, vehicle, classroom, and various school locations.

Teacher Engages in Sex Acts With Teen, Jailed

A particularly egregious act took place during a school field trip to Washington, DC, where Hare admitted to engaging in sexual activities with the minor. She entered a guilty plea for the incident that occurred in April 2022. On August 1, 2023, Hare faced indictment on federal charges, including interstate travel and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. A plea agreement led to the dismissal of one of the charges. US: Former Teacher Admits Having Sex With 8th-Grade Student in Classroom on Graduation Day.

Following her prison term, Hare will be subject to a lifetime of supervised release. The prosecution's statement underscored the gravity of the offence, emphasizing the betrayal of trust and exploitation of a vulnerable minor by an educator. The sentence serves as a stern warning to others in positions of authority who might abuse their power.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 21, 2024 01:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).