A Teacher of the Year finalist has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting an 18-year-old student, despite the victim asking the judge not to punish the teacher. A New Hampshire teacher was charged with sexual assault because of her relationship with an adult under a relatively new law.
In March 2022, Bridget Doucette Howell, 40, was charged with three counts of felony sexual assault for having sexual intercourse and a lesser charge of felony sexual assault for kissing a student. was indicted for.
The unidentified victim did not speak at Thursday’s court hearing. However, he filed an impact statement with a Rockingham Superior Court judge asking that Doucette Howell not be punished for her crimes.
“I do not want Bridget to be punished under criminal law for her reactions to an unhealthy living environment,” the student wrote.
Despite the victim’s objections to the charges, the judge sentenced Doucette Howell to one year in prison.
according to WMUR-TV, the former teacher’s plea deal means she will only have to spend a minimum of 14 days in a house of correction until she shows good behavior. Doucette Howell was subsequently sentenced to 50 weeks of home confinement.
Doucette Howell must also have no contact with anyone under the age of 18, except for children. She must also register as a sex offender.
Former teachers will also be required to attend mental health counseling with a therapist certified by the Institute for Sexual Abuse Treatment and Prevention. She also “must meaningfully follow all treatment recommendations.”
“It was very important to us to see justice served today,” said Rockingham County Sheriff Chuck Massahos.
“We spent a lot of time on this case. I think it took over 400 hours on this case just working with the state to make sure this case was filed the right way.” Mr. Masahos said.
The former teacher was charged under a relatively new law that does not take a student’s age into account in cases of sexual abuse.
From January 2021, a new law came into effect. Forbidden Employees, contractors, or volunteers of elementary and secondary educational institutions are prohibited from having sexual relations with students, regardless of their age. This law means that even 18-year-olds cannot consent to sex with teachers. The law also states that teachers and students may not have sexual relations within 10 months of the student’s graduation or expulsion.
Doucette Howell admitted that the teacher had a sex scandal with an 18-year-old student in April and May 2021.
At the time of the crime, Doucette Howell was a teacher at Sanborn Regional High School in Kingston, New Hampshire. She was working as a drama teacher at a school while she was having a sexual relationship.
In 2016, Doucette Howell was recognized as one of eight finalists for the New Hampshire Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year award. At the time, she was teaching history to special needs students.
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