Teacher Hackett Gets Prison

(St. Albans, Vermont) In March 2006, teaching assistant at Missisquoi Valley Union High School, Melanie Hackett, 24, was arrested for having a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old boy. Later, Hackett agreed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of lewd and lascivious behavior in return for the dismissal of more serious charges. According to the deal, Hackett would receive six months in jail.

In November 2006, Franklin County Judge Mark Keller rejected the plea agreement, stating that six months in prison was insufficient. As a result, Hackett withdrew her guilty plea to fight charges of sexual assault at trial.

In the latest development, Hackett was apparently offered a new and improved plea deal which she liked -- and the court liked. In return for her admission of guilt, Judge Ben Joseph sentenced Hackett to one to 10 years in prison for one count of lewd and lascivious conduct on a child, and one count of lewd and lascivious conduct. No mention was made about whether Hackett will be required to register as a sex offender.

Hackett was ordered to report to the Southeast State Correctional Facility on May 15. Presumably, that will allow her necessary time to get her and her family's affairs in order, to go around the world in 80 days, to write a television pilot, to enjoy St. Patrick's Day, to be a spectator at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, to be a feminist protester at the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta and, of course, to visit Graceland. Let's hope that Hackett won't run across any alluring 13-year-old boys before she gets locked up and starts two hours per week sex offender treatment.

Since the prosecutors appeared to have been anxious to weasel-word the charges (i.e. eliminate all serious charges) down to a level Hackett found acceptable, it must be that Hackett held the cards in this poker game. Yet, no information has been reported that would indicate Hackett is deserving of feather duster treatment.

From the start, Hackett has been characterized as a child molester in a position of authority without any qualities which would mitigate the consequences of her crimes. I'm left to speculate that she is related to a high-ranking political official or, on the other hand, maybe the Vermont justice system simply views female child molesters as not all that bad. Whatever the reason, Hackett's prosecution could have been more aggressive.

To be fair, it's not just Vermont that seems to be soft in prosecuting sex crimes committed against children, however, the state does seem to be earning a certain notoriety in that regard. May I boldly suggest that legal eagles in many states are blindly fingering their pencils while adults are doing the same to children.

Okay, that was a cheap shot. I apologize. One must assume that the majority of justice system professionals are competent and doing the best possible job against circumstances that are allied to favor the criminal. Not forgetting, of course, that the public is complicit. If the voters don't demand better government, they surely won't get it.

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11/09/06 - Judge Rejects Hackett Plea Agreement

07/13/06 - Teacher and 13-Year-Old Boy

03/29/06 - Female Teacher Accused of Sex with 13-Year-Old Boy