Thursday, July 23, 2009

Kasey Johnes, former health teacher, sentenced to 2 years for sexual abuse of 17 year old

On Tuesday, July 21, Kasey E. Johnes, A former Edwardsville High School health teacher and Medical Careers Club sponser, was sentenced to 2 years probation and fined $500 for having sex with a 17 year old high school student. In exchange for her guilty plea to aggravated criminal sexual abuse, charges of aggravated criminal sexual assault were dropped. School officials reported the relationship with the 17 year old to law enforcement in April. Johnes resigned from her position April 17.

The charges alleged she committed an act of sexual penetration with a senior male student, who was 17 at the time of the sexual encounters. The charges stated she had sexual relations with a victim between the ages of 13 and 18 "at a time when she held a position of trust, authority or supervision in relation to the victim."

The acts took place at her home in Glen Carbon the previous year, authorities said. The relationship lasted about five months and ended in February, authorities said.

An adult in Illinois who does not have a position of trust can legally have sex with a 17 year old. With a position of trust, the AOC rises to 18. There is no AOC for therapist/patient or guard/inmate sexual abuse.

The guilty plea took place in Madison County Circuit Court. Madison County State's Attorney's Office spokeswoman Stephanee Smith stated that "[Johnes] has lost her job, she has to register as a sex offender, and she has to continue counseling," and the court will monitor the counseling.

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