Before we dive into the story of 28-year-old teacher Brittni Colleps and the five students she's accused of having sex with, a disclaimer is in order. Any time a teacher takes advantage of a student, she (or he) deserves to be punished. It's an unconscionable betrayal of trust. And yet, there's a lot wrong with the way Colleps is being treated right now.
The former English teacher (yes, she lost her job over the allegations) at a Texas high school allegedly had sex with five different students in her home over the course of two months. All the kids were over 18. But now Colleps could spend 20 years in prison.
Twenty years? I get that what Colleps is accused of is wrong. If she's convicted, she most certainly should be punished. But the fact that these "kids" were all adult males can't be ignored. The threat of 20 years in prison brings a whiff of malicious prosecution to this whole case.
Let's put this in perspective, shall we?
Mary Kay Letourneau had numerous sexual encounters with her 13-year-old student, eventually bearing two of his children. She spent less than eight years in the slammer.
In June of this year, a man named Josh Boyd was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Earlier this year Boyd pleaded guilty to felony murder.
In 2011, a man named Terrence Sundsmo was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in prison. He'd been convicted of possessing more than 4,600 graphic images of child porn, including sadomasochistic imagery.
I'm not saying Brittni Colleps should get off. If she did the crime, she should do some time. But 20 years seems excessive. Here's hoping a judge errs on the side of sense (she could get as little as two).
What do you think would be an appropriate sentence here?
Image via cdsessums/Flickr
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Comments 52
Good grief. Can it be explained in any simpler terms?
Also- I would agree that people in a position of authority and trust SHOULD be held to a higher standard, and that there should be laws to protect those entrusted to their care. Such as- doctors, therapists, and even teachers.
If this had been a 28yr old MALE doctor, therapist, or teacher having sex with his 18yr old male or female patients or high school students...wouldn't most of you (especially the bloggers of this site) be demanding his balls on a platter, and that he serve the maximum prison time?
Bear with me for a moment, but in NC there is a law for corrections officers that can place them in jail if they are caught having sex with an inmate regardless of whether consent is given and they are at the age of consent. Perhaps a similar law is being used in this case because regardless of the fact that all of them were over the age of 18 they are still her students and she is in an authoritative role.
And, while I understand the outrage concerning her 'possible' sentence, as compared to the 'actual' sentences of those that have been found guilty of far worse crimes, try to remember that she hasn't been sentenced yet. In my opinion, I seriously doubt she will get the maximum sentence. And whatever sentence she does get will probably be reduced by way of: serving concurrent sentences, fines, a partial suspension in favor of probation, and parole eligibility.
So, even if she does get the 20yr max, she may not serve even half of that. And if she gets the minimum, she may end up serving a month or two...maybe not even that much.
So let's not try to act as though she's being crucified and being made 'an example of...'.
I think we all know the reality of our legal system. And it most definitely favors the criminal (and their rights).
My Dads brother was the "sex victim" of a woman teacher when he was about 15, and she had his baby. He is fine and has children of his own with a woman...more his age,lol. I don't think it is the same when a female teacher has sex with a male student VS. male teacher with female student. She should get probation or something but she has babies to take care of and she probably doesn't need to serve time. Its just not the same.
That you would be completely okay leaving your 16/17 year old child IN THE CARE OF someone that will still abuse your child (AND, RECORD IT!!! Wtf???), so long as they've 'passed an age limit'.
.........Stilllllll waiting-
None of your examples were given enough time. This idiot had sex with FIVE students. She deserves as much time as is allowed.