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POSTED: 03:34 p.m. EDT, Aug 31, 2007
By Ed Meyer
Beacon Journal staff writer
A former Springfield High School special education teacher was sentenced this morning to two years in prison for having consensual sex with a 17-year-old male student at the school.
Renee Smith, 37, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony, and two second-degree felony charges of corrupting another with drugs.
Summit County Common Pleas Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer gave Smith two years for each of the second-degree felonies and one year for the other sexual battery offense, ordering the sentences to run simultaneously.
The judge also found Smith to be a Tier Three sexual offender, which means she must register her address with the county sheriff for the rest of her life following her release from prison.
Smith, who had been with the school district for 14 years and had won awards for innovative programs with her special-needs students, told the judge she was ''truly sorry for all the hurt and pain'' she had caused.
Stormer allowed Smith to say good-bye to her parents, who were seated in the rear of the courtroom, before being led away to the county jail for the initial steps of her state prison sentence.
The victim, who was in Smith's special-needs class because of behavioral issues, according to Springfield Township detective Joe Holsapple, was not present in court for sentencing.
Defense lawyer Ed Bonetti had asked the judge to consider local incarceration for Smith, followed by intense supervision in a probation program.
Bonetti had argued that Smith was a first-time offender, has been undergoing counseling and treatment for her problems and had previously surrendered her teaching certificate.
Holsapple said outside of court that his investigation involved two students at the school, but Smith pleaded to involvement with one in the plea bargain with county prosecutors.
The detective said he was pleased with the sentencing decision.
By Ed Meyer
Beacon Journal staff writer
A former Springfield High School special education teacher was sentenced this morning to two years in prison for having consensual sex with a 17-year-old male student at the school.
Renee Smith, 37, earlier pleaded guilty to one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony, and two second-degree felony charges of corrupting another with drugs.
Summit County Common Pleas Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer gave Smith two years for each of the second-degree felonies and one year for the other sexual battery offense, ordering the sentences to run simultaneously.
The judge also found Smith to be a Tier Three sexual offender, which means she must register her address with the county sheriff for the rest of her life following her release from prison.
Smith, who had been with the school district for 14 years and had won awards for innovative programs with her special-needs students, told the judge she was ''truly sorry for all the hurt and pain'' she had caused.
Stormer allowed Smith to say good-bye to her parents, who were seated in the rear of the courtroom, before being led away to the county jail for the initial steps of her state prison sentence.
The victim, who was in Smith's special-needs class because of behavioral issues, according to Springfield Township detective Joe Holsapple, was not present in court for sentencing.
Defense lawyer Ed Bonetti had asked the judge to consider local incarceration for Smith, followed by intense supervision in a probation program.
Bonetti had argued that Smith was a first-time offender, has been undergoing counseling and treatment for her problems and had previously surrendered her teaching certificate.
Holsapple said outside of court that his investigation involved two students at the school, but Smith pleaded to involvement with one in the plea bargain with county prosecutors.
The detective said he was pleased with the sentencing decision.
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