Former Mango Elementary teacher Ethel Anderson, who was convicted of sexually molesting her own student, a 12-year-old boy, has been sentenced to 38 years in prison.
The former Teacher of the Year knew she was facing serious prison time but still begged the judge for mercy.
“Despite what the court might see, I’m not a sexual predator," she said. "I don’t present a threat to our society and it’s because of the respect that I have for the rules of our society that I am ashamed and embarrassed to be standing in this courtroom. I keep telling myself this is not my life."
But Judge Chet Tharpe showed her no mercy.
"You, Miss Anderson, are a parent’s worst nightmare,” he said. "You groomed him for over a period of time until you were satisfied that you could violate him in the most vile, and horrible ways in order to satisfy your own deviant desires.”
Anderson invited the victim to her house, for what she called tutoring sessions. The 31-year-old admitted to the jury she was performing what she called "sexual therapy” on the young boy after he was having problems at school.
The judge also told Anderson he does not take gender into account. He said just because some people think it’s less damaging for a woman to prey on a young boy doesn’t mean she should do less time than a man would.
The victim and victim’s mother chose not to speak in court. The now 14-year-old boy had to switch schools because of the incident.