McCandless Deals for No Jail in Sex Case

(Fort Collins, Colorado) In November 2006, former teacher and the principal's wife at Brighton Charter High School, Carrie McCandless, was accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student. Ultimately, McCandless was charged with sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

After considerable legal machinations, a plea deal has been reached between McCandless and the prosecutors.(Hat tip: Don Morgenstern)

As part of a plea agreement reached with Larimer County prosecutors, Carrie McCandless, 30, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful sexual contact – a misdemeanor charge and a reduction from the original felony charge of sexual assault on a child by a person in position of trust as well as felony counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and tampering with physical evidence.

The latter charge stemmed from an alleged phone call McCandless made to the victim in the case following a hearing on the other charges. McCandless, through her lawyer, previously denied she contacted the boy.

Per acceptance of the agreement by Larimer County Judge James Hiatt who ordered a pre-sentence investigative report be completed prior to sentencing, McCandless will receive a four years deferred sentence and, as a convicted sex offender, will have intensive supervised probation. She also will be required to register as a sex offender but only for 10 years because the sex charge was a misdemeanor. McCandless is not expected to serve any jail time.

And if she complies with all the stipulations specified by the court, the felony charges against her will be dropped. No jail and no felonies. Helluva deal.

Actual sentencing is scheduled for June 8th. In the meantime, McCandless is free on bail.

Previous:

01/31/07 - Teacher Faces New Charge

12/06/06 - Teacher/Principal's Wife Romanced Boy

11/09/06 - Teacher/Principal's Wife Accused of Sex with Student

[Update 06/08/07]

McCandless sentenced.