NC teacher sentenced to 3 years probation for sex with 16 year old student

John Franklin Rasberry, 33, a former West Craven High School (NC) teacher, was sentenced to 3 years probation, during which a prison sentence of between 13 and 16 months for sex with a then 16 year old student will be suspended. The sex with the student occurred during the last quarter of 2007, according to the police report.

Rasberry, the father of two small children, has to turn in his state teacher's license and register as a convicted sex offender.

Bill Rivenbark, superintendent of Craven County schools, said the system conducted an investigation during that time.

"He (Rasberry) is not licensed," Rivenbark said. "He never has been. He was a certified at-will employee. At least that's the information I have, and I remember seeing that during the investigation."

Rivenbark said Don Hughes, a former West Craven principal, hired Rasberry for the 2003-04 school year. He said Rasberry managed the school's in-school suspension program and was a teacher assistant.

Last week, Gerald Johnson, the school system's human resources director, said Rasberry and one other teacher resigned from West Craven during winter break. Johnson said the resignations were related to conduct investigations.

The then 17 year old victim reported the incident to school authorities, who then passed on the information to police.

Court papers indicate that Rasberry was cooperative and wrote a statement about the incident.
He must perform 200 hours of community service, pay a fine, attorney fees, court costs and community service costs totaling $1,515.30.