Kelly Ann Abdo, Monroe, Mi teacher, pleads no contest to indecent exposure

(Original post 2-13-09)

Kelly Ann Abdo pled no contest to a single count of indecent exposure February 11 for having sex with an 18 year old student in a parked car on a street in Monroe, MI last May. According to authorities, 2 other Monroe High (MI) students saw Abdo and the victim going at it.

The Monroe County Prosecutor's Office charged Ms. Abdo with indecent exposure because under Michigan law a teacher and a student can have sexual relations legally if the student is 18 or over.

Assistant Prosecutor Amara Hunter said the student in the car was not charged with indecent exposure because Ms. Abdo had relations with multiple students. Additionally she was older and should have shown more responsibility because she was the teacher."This is the best resolution to this case," Ms. Hunter said after the hearing. "It was poor judgment on her part."

The plea agreement, accepted by 1st District Court Judge Terrence Bronson yesterday February 11, calls for a maximum sentence of a year in jail and a $1000 fine. The Monroe County (MI) Prosecutor's Office agreed not to file any more charges against Abdo, and Abdo agreed to have her teaching certificate revoked for at least 2 years.

The no contest plea works the same as a guilty plea in criminal proceedings, but affords protection to defendants facing civil lawsuits. The formal sentencing of Abdo will occur March 25.

(Update 3-26-09) Abdo was formally sentenced to two years probation yesterday. Other conditions of the plea agreement include 30 days of community service, $1175 in fines and fees, no unsupervised contact with minors, no teaching anywhere for the next two years, and not challenging her firing by the school district.

"It didn't happen," Mr. [Mark S.] Bilkovic [Abdo's lawyer] said. "I'm not happy she was charged or convicted of anything."He said his client did have phone conversations with students and sent them text messages, but that was all.

Asked why she would plead guilty to a criminal charge, Mr. Bilkovic said Ms. Abdo pleaded to the misdemeanor offense to avoid having her family endure a painful trial. Besides, he added, if she did not accept a plea to the indecent exposure charge, the prosecutor's office threatened to file a 15-year felony charge against her.

Abdo spoke about the charges for the first time after her formal sentencing.

"This past year has been a nightmare...This has affected my family even worse than it affected me. The rumors and media are not correct."