Laura Findlay Gets Prison for Sex with Boys

(Saginaw, Michigan) After pleading guilty to 22 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person younger than 16, teacher Laura Findlay faced possible life in prison. Fortunately for her, she didn't get the maximum sentence.

From ABC12.com:

The 32 year old learned her punishment Thursday. Findlay will spend at least seven and no more than 25 years in prison for sex crimes against six boys from Ricker Middle School.

In earlier court testimony, some of the eighth graders said Findlay had oral sex with them and gave them lap dances.

At least two of them claimed they had intercourse with her. They said it happened either in the band room or in Findlay's SUV behind a local business.

Findlay told the judge she was sorry. Her attorney said she had a "lapse in judgment," that she was lonely and stupid at the time.

I strongly disagree. One episode could be characterized as a lapse in judgment. Having sex with six eighth-grade boys is a pattern of criminal conduct. Regarding Findlay being lonely, it's not a defense for her behavior.

With respect to Findlay being stupid, I'm not so sure. It's possible she believed that she could get away with having sex with students. The media has been flooded with stories of female teachers in similar circumstances who are able to walk away from criminal prosecution with nothing but hand slaps. Maybe she thought it was a victimless crime which would be treated casually by the justice system, if she were caught.

Judge William A. Crane also ordered that Findlay register as a sex offender and pay $1,380 in fines and fees.