Elisa Kawasaki Sentenced in Student Sex Case

(Hanford, California) As some may recall, last April former 25-year-old Hanford West High School biology teacher, Elisa Kawasaki, was arrested for having sex with a 16-year-old student. Last month, Kawasaki pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sex with a minor in accordance with a plea agreement.

Today, Judge Thomas DeSantos sentenced her to 180 days in the county jail and five years probation. Contrary to the desires of the mother of the victim, Kawasaki will not have to register as a sex offender.

My take is that Kawasaki was treated rather leniently by the court and, probably, considerably more leniently than a man would have been in similar circumstances. The details of the relationship indicate that a student's britches were under the control of a person in a position of authority for several months. It wasn't a one-time lapse in judgment. It was extended and frequent in nature and Kawasaki was the aggressor. She should have been required to at least register as a sex offender.