(Originally Posted 10-12-07)
Yet another case of New Jersey teacher-student sexual misconduct. Victoria Blevins, of Robbinsville, was arrested at her home Wednesday, 10 days after a mother found messages on her teenage daughter's computer suggesting a sexual relationship between the two. Monroe Township High School, in Monroe, NJ, was where Blevins graduated in 2002, then worked as a gym teacher, and also where the student, who was not a student of Blevins, attended. Blevins was listed as an assistant girls' basketball coach on the school website.
A subsequent investigation turned up evidence of extensive contact, some of it sexual in nature, between the two, and the student eventually told investigators that the sexual activity between herself and Blevins lasted from April & June.
Blevins was charged with sexual assault and official misconduct. Sometimes, only the official misconduct count in a teacher-student sex case in New Jersey is charged. This occurs if the alleged victim is 16 or over, NJ's age of consent. Sex offender registration is not required for a guilty verdict or plea when this occurs. Blevins is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick on $100,000 bail.
Note to Blevins - Why risk your career by going with a student who is less than 7 years younger than you if you can have women your age, or legally date 16 & 17 year old girls outside of your school? You are 23, and official misconduct convictions in NJ means loss of your teaching license forever, not just for 2 or 3 years. You can always travel to NYC or Philly for a relationship with a woman.
NJ gym teacher held in sex case
A subsequent investigation turned up evidence of extensive contact, some of it sexual in nature, between the two, and the student eventually told investigators that the sexual activity between herself and Blevins lasted from April & June.
Blevins was charged with sexual assault and official misconduct. Sometimes, only the official misconduct count in a teacher-student sex case in New Jersey is charged. This occurs if the alleged victim is 16 or over, NJ's age of consent. Sex offender registration is not required for a guilty verdict or plea when this occurs. Blevins is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick on $100,000 bail.
Note to Blevins - Why risk your career by going with a student who is less than 7 years younger than you if you can have women your age, or legally date 16 & 17 year old girls outside of your school? You are 23, and official misconduct convictions in NJ means loss of your teaching license forever, not just for 2 or 3 years. You can always travel to NYC or Philly for a relationship with a woman.
NJ gym teacher held in sex case
(Updated 6-2-08) (Pled Guilty to Lesser Charge 4-18-08)I missed this BIG time. Blevins, according to this website, pleaded guilty to harassment April 18 after the victim recanted. She still contacts the "victim", who is still a student, and according to her lawyer, pland to go into the military. Her teaching certificate will be given up to the state, and she will be sentenced July 18.
(Updated 7-19-08) Blevins was sentenced to 3 years probation on reduced charges of harassment after non cooperation from the victim forced prosecutors to drop more serious charges of official misconduct and sexual assault. Blevins won't be required to register as a sex offender, though she has permanently forfeited her New Jersey teaching certificate.
The student, who was not in any of Blevins' classes, no longer goes to Monroe High.
Blevins, who apologized before Superior Court Judge Frederick DeVesa, plans to go into the military.
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2 comments:
Let's all keep in mind that media tends to blow things out of context!!! I happen to know this girl and she is not a bad kid... she is not a baby toucher or anything of that nature! I mean come on if victoria was 33 and the girl was 27 would anybody say anything... OF COURSE NOT!! My girlfriend is 18 years older than me and we have an amazing relationship... Granted it was not a smart decision on victoria's part because the law is the law... however she is not a monster!!! I feel bad for her because truth is these two probably cared about her and without a doubt their relationship was WITH CONSENT!!!
I'm the owner of this blog, and this is a response to Victoria's friend. Yes you are right that nothing would be said if the relationship was between a 33 year old and a 27 year old. I myself was born 9-26-80.
The age of consent in New Jersey normally is 16, which means that a relationship between a 23 year old and 17 year old would be legal under the usual conditions.
Unfortunately, your friend was a teacher who allegedly had contact with a student. More and more states have laws which have ABSOLUTE teacher-student sex bans, regardless of the AOC. Timothy Zisa, another NJ teacher, was convicted of official misconduct with two 18 year old students - conduct which is legal if between a teacher and someone not their student (or not in their school).
Teachers are held to a higher standard than others regarding sexual conduct, which includes a higher age of consent (or presumption of non-consent) with student-teacher sex.
The fact of the matter is that when teacher-student sex is charged, it is usually a strict liability crime. "Strict liability" means that all prosecutors have to prove that sexual activity occured in order to get a conviction. In other crimes, both intent and act has to be proven.
I'm not a lawyer, but I hope that your friend understands the ramifications of the above paragraphs and acts accordingly.
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