Female Instructor Guilty of Forcible Sex Abuse

(Tooele, Utah) Last August, 42-year-old teacher's assistant at Tooele High School, Leslie Baird, was arrested for sexually abusing several students. The inappropriate behavior was exposed when "graphic, sexually explicit" text messaging between Baird and the students became known to other students and the victims' parents. Police were alerted.

Yesterday, Baird pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse in exchange for the prosecution dropping counts of forcible sodomy, supplying alcohol to a minor and dealing harmful material to a minor.

Sentencing before District Judge Mark Kouris is scheduled for January 9. Baird faces a possible 15 years in prison. I'll wager she gets little time in jail and probation.


[Update 01/10/07]

Baird sentenced to have her head examined.


[Update 04/17/07]

Baird sentenced to probation.


[Update 06/20/07]

Hold the phone. Apparently, Baird was actually sentenced to one-year in jail. She was then released early.