Teacher Found Guilty of Sex Crimes

(Pensacola, Florida) Last December, Escambia High School reading teacher Janelle Marie Bird turned herself in to police to faces charges of lewd and lascivious battery and unlawful sexual activity with a minor. Bird allegedly had a two-year sexual relationship with a student that started when he was a 14-year-old.

After the allegations became known, the Escambia County School District suspended Bird and later fired her. Subsequent to booking, she was released on bond.

This week, an Escambia County jury found 25-year-old Janelle Bird guilty of two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and two lesser counts of unnatural and lascivious act. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 4 and faces a possible 30 years in prison.

From PensacolaNewsJournal.com:

The Pensacola Christian College graduate did not react when the verdict was read. She did not look at her parents, who were holding hands. Neither the teen nor his parents were at the courtroom, which was filled with curious lawyers and legal assistants throughout the two-day trial.

Bird's lawyer, Jerry Allred, stated he had no legal defense for her actions and, ostensibly to garner sympathy, portrayed her as a naive woman with the mentality of a teenager.

The teen testified Thursday that he loved Bird, who already left East Hill Christian and was starting a new job with the Escambia School District when the relationship began in August.

But when asked by Allred if he still loved her, the 16-year-old responded with, "Uh ... nah."

Interestingly, Bird was offered and rejected a plea deal of eight years in prison before the trial. Now it seems she'll see at least ten years.

In a fine report of the case, Nicole Lozare sums it up eloquently with "Love is not a defense."


[Update 10/04/06]

Bird sentenced.