An East Texas teacher was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday for inappropriate sexual relations with three high school students. The state’s latest educator brought to justice after being found guilty of this type of crime.
Rachel Bauer, 25, was the agriculture teacher at Frankston High School located approximately 90 miles southeast of Dallas. In late August, she pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct charges with three male students aged 14, 16, and 17 before State District Judge Pam Fletcher. Then, on October 8, she struck a plea agreement in which she will serve 10 years on one second-degree felony count of improper relationship between an educator and a student.
Bauer will also serve 10 years deferred adjudication probation on a second-degree felony charge of sexual assault of a child following her prison term and must register as a sex offender. However, should Bauer fail to complete the terms of the probation, she stands to face up to 20 years in prison again and lifetime sex offender registration, says the release.
Frankston law enforcement first became aware of Bauer’s possible sexual improprieties with students last year. Further police investigation confirmed the situation, revealing startling details.
“The acts included her sending pornographic photos of herself in a Frankston ISD T-shirt, fully naked photos of herself, sexting with the male students, having drinking parties with the male students and engaging in sexual intercourse and oral intercourse with all three students at her home,” according to a press release issued by the Anderson County District Attorney.
The county Criminal District Attorney, Allyson Mitchell, was satisfied with the outcome of this case. In the release, Mitchell said that that prosecutors pushed the plea deal after consulting with Bauer’s victims, noting that they believed prison plus a lengthy probation sentence was appropriate punishment. “She will be held accountable by our system for the rest of her life,” she commented.
“Thankfully, she will never be allowed to teach or be around children again. What is particularly offensive is that Rachel Bauer, as a teacher, was in a position of trust. She used her position to flirt with and seduce her students. Her actions are no different than a male teacher doing the same to a female student. Predatory sexual behavior knows no gender limit,” Mitchell also said, emphasizing, “I pray that all teachers think twice before acting like Bauer. If they don’t, we will be standing, waiting to prosecute them as well.”
Last month, Breitbart Texas reported that the 2014-15 school year marked the 7th consecutive year that the state’s teacher-student sexual misconduct cases increased. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) confirmed opening 188 of these cases last year and 179 in 2013-14. In the past Breitbart Texas reported on improper educator-student relationships, expert Terry Abbott blamed the problem on social media and secret electronic messaging which he said “created an open gateway for inappropriate behavior,” including developing “improper relationships with students out of sight of parents and principals.” He underscored that the wave of educator sexual deviance in the classroom extends beyond Texas, calling it “epidemic” nationwide.
Follow Merrill Hope on Twitter @OutOfTheBoxMom.
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