Wednesday, February 13, 2002
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Wednesday, February 13, 2002 |
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Former teacher admits to having sex with student By JOHN
MUNFORD
Former Starr's Mill High School teacher Laura Voyles received three years probation Monday after pleading guilty to having sex with a person in custody. Voyles, 38, was arrested in December after it came to light that she was having a sexual affair with a 17-year-old student who was in one of her classes both last year and this year. She resigned after being questioned about the matter by Principal Sam Sweat. District Attorney William McBroom said Voyles avoided jail time because both the victim and his family argued vehemently that she not be sent to prison. According to Georgia law, any custodian who has sex with an enrolled student would qualify for these charges, even if the victim consented to the alleged sexual activity. The guilty plea, which serves as a conviction, means it is likely that Voyles' teaching career is effectively over. The investigation was triggered when the victim's parents approached school officials with evidence of the affair: taped phone conversations between Voyles and the student. Voyles, who taught advanced placement and gifted English courses, had been with the school system for 12 years. Detectives with the Fayette County Sheriff's Department said there is evidence that the affair between Voyles and the student lasted for approximately one year. According to the warrants for Voyles' arrest, at least one of the alleged incidents took place at her home. Investigators do not have any evidence that any impropriety took place on school grounds, according to officials.
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