3 months ago
26
NEW DELHI: A
high school teacher
in the
United States
"
enticed and lured
" a teenage student into having
sex
with her 30 times under the pretext of
one-on-one counselling
, as reported by the New York Post.
The teacher, hailing from
Arkansas
, had provided the 17-year-old student with her
phone number
, and their communication primarily took place on Instagram and Snapchat.
Heather Hare, a married mother, now faces a life sentence after pleading guilty on Monday "to transporting a minor across state lines for unlawful sexual activity," according to prosecutors quoted by The Post.
Hare was arrested after the student came forward to report the ongoing abuse. The boy revealed that he first met the teacher on his initial day of senior year at
Bryant High School
.
“The minor victim and Hare had engaged in sexual activity approximately 20 to 30 times throughout the 2021-2022 school term, including multiple instances at her Conway residence, in her vehicle, and in her classroom and parking lots at Bryant High School,” the prosecutor's office stated.
“Hare initiated one-on-one counseling sessions with the minor victim, eventually sharing her personal phone number and primarily communicating with him through Instagram and Snapchat,” Assistant US Attorney John Ray White informed the court.
White also recounted an incident where Hare shared a dream about having sex with the teenager.
The physical relationship between Hare and the student extended to the April 2022 school trip to Washington DC. During this trip, she took the boy and three female students for a competition linked to her course.
The Assistant US Attorney argued that during the trip, Hare went to a hotel room and engaged in sexual activity with the boy.
Hare became emotional in court when asked if everything the prosecutor stated should be considered "100 per cent accurate." Tears welled up in her eyes as she replied, "Yes," and pleaded "guilty."
Hare admitted to the federal charge of transporting a minor in a plea deal that seeks a 13-year prison sentence. However, the judge declined to make an immediate decision on whether to approve the deal, stating that a determination would be made during the pending sentencing hearing.
In the event that Hare rejects the plea agreement, she retains the option to withdraw her guilty plea and proceed to trial. Prosecutors emphasized that this course of action could potentially lead to a life sentence.
“This former teacher took advantage of her position of trust and the vulnerability of a minor, using her role to entice and lure this minor into engaging in unlawful sexual activity,” quoted US Attorney Jonathan Ross. “Our office will continue to seek significant penalties against any educational professional who sexually abuses their students,” Ross added.
Hare gained attention in 2020 when students surprised her on "Good Morning America" bidding her farewell as physical home economics classes were discontinued as a measure against Covid-19.
English (US) ·