Teacher Withrow Gets Hand Slapped for Sex with Boy, 11

(Smithfield, North Carolina) In October 2006, a 30-year-old fifth-grade teacher at Polenta Elementary School, Rebecca Withrow, was arrested for engaging in sex with an 11-year-old boy.

The sex reportedly occurred in the classroom between February and June 2003. Subsequently and astonishingly, Withrow was also accused of engaging in sex with the 11-year-old boy's father.

Ultimately, Withrow, a divorced mother of two young girls, was charged with rape, indecent liberties and committing a sex offense against a student.

Reported today, Rebecca Withrow pleaded no contest to committing a sex offense against a student in accordance with a plea deal. In exchange, the rape and indecent liberties charges were dismissed. As a result of the plea, Withrow was sentenced to 120 days in jail with credit given for 40 days already served.

Withrow was also ordered to complete five years of supervised probation and 120 days of community service. No contact with her victim or his family will be allowed.

No information is available regarding Withrow's teaching credentials or whether she will be required to register as a sex offender. Maybe I'm being a little picky but since she is guilty of engaging in sex with an 11-year-old boy in the classroom over a period of several months, it would seem appropriate to take action which would preclude her from offending again.

Tip: Don Morgenstern