No Jail in Teacher-Student Sex-Porn Case

(Worcester, Massachusetts) Last December, Amber S. Jennings, former English teacher at Shepherd Hill Regional High School in Dudley, was charged with engaging a minor in sexual intercourse and distribution of pornography to a minor. Jennings, 32, apparently had been caught in a long-term effort to keep a 16-year-old male student's participle from dangling.


Amber S. Jennings
Since last December, the prosecution and defense have battled in annoying back and forth negotiations which have finally concluded in a plea agreement. Jennings pleaded guilty yesterday to sending obscene photos, videos and electronic messages to a 16-year-old male student with whom she was having a sexual relationship. The obscene photos included images of Jennings exposing her breasts and genitals.

For her plea, Jennings got no jail, a mere two years probation, and it wouldn't come as a surprise if she also got a trip to Disneyland for all the trouble the court put her through. The victim's mother and other family members opposed the plea, believing the punishment was not comparable to what a man in her position would have received. Well, duh!

Superior Court Judge Kenneth J. Fishman will rule within two weeks on whether Jennings will be required to register as a sex offender. Based upon what's happened thus far in the case, the judge will probably let her slide and apologize to boot.

There have been no reports of what Jennings' husband and two children think of the situation. My take is, "Hell, it's Massachusetts, the state that gave convicted murderer Willie Horton a weekend pass from prison so he could go kill again."


[Update 9/29/05]

Jennings will not have to register as a sex offender and she must give up her license to teach in Massachusetts. Of course, this means that other states are fertile grounds for her to teach.

From BostonHerald.com:

Amber S. Jennings, 32, who admitted this week that she e-mailed photos of herself naked to her former student, also criticized the boy's mother who reportedly said she wants to cash in on the incident with a civil suit.

"It is just unfortunate that she would go so far as to ruin her son's life in order to profit," Jennings told the Worcester Telegram and Gazette this week.

[ ... ]

Jennings told the paper she's writing a book about the case.

So, let me see if I understand. Jennings, a 32-year-old married mother of two daughters, is blaming the boy's mother for ruining his life.

Not surprising. This is what happens when people are allowed to commit crimes and the only penalty is a hand slap. Jennings arrogantly broke the law prior to being caught and, just as arrogantly, blames someone else for the mess she created. And, as expected, Superior Court Judge Kenneth J. Fishman has ruled in a manner which indicates that he doesn't take teacher-student sexual behavior very seriously. Consequently, Jennings is allowed to walk away from court comfortably feeling that she got screwed by the system and nothing is her fault. Thanks, Judge.

Finally, some word filters out about what Amber's husband thinks. Russell Jennings is quoted as saying that his marriage is "somewhat strained as of late."