A former high school basketball coach has been coach has been sentenced to 30-years in prison for having sex with a student.
Leslie DeWitt was found not guilty on the two more serious charges of sexual battery.
DeWitt will have to serve every day of the 30-year sentence without the possibility of early release. She will also have to register as a sex offender.
DeWitt, 34, is the former Hancock High School girls basketball coach accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old former player. DeWitt was an assistant coach for the basketball team in 2009 and 2010.
“The victim testified that DeWitt initially disclosed her feelings for the student in the eighth grade. After years of grooming, the defendant committed various sexual acts of sexual molestation on her over a period of approximately eight months during her sophomore year of high school,” said Assistant District Attorney Chris Daniel.
There is never an excuse for teachers or coaches to engage in sexual activity with students, yet it seems to be a growing phenomenon. The defendant’s attorney is pointing out that there was a 3-year delay in even reporting the crime and claims this is grounds to be cautious in passing judgment.