Teacher Charged in Boy Sex Case

(Pensacola, Florida) In October, a 16-year-old schoolboy's aunt alerted police to an alleged affair between a 24-year-old teacher and her nephew.

Subsequently, Escambia High School reading teacher, Janelle Marie Bird, 24, was accused of engaging in a two-year sexual relationship with the boy. Escambia County School District officials then suspended Bird. Notably, the alleged relationship started when the boy was 14-years-old.

This past Friday (12/09), Janelle Marie Bird turned herself in to the Escambia County Sheriff's Office to face two counts of lewd and lascivious battery and two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

Bird posted a $15,000 bond and was released. She's scheduled to appear in court on December 30.


[Update 06/10/06]

"Janelle Marie Bird, 25, appeared Thursday morning before Circuit Judge Nick Geeker, who set her trial for the week of July 10. She is charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious battery and two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

If convicted by a jury, the maximum penalty on each of the four counts is 15 years in state prison."


[Update 07/22/06]

Bird found guilty.