Teacher Renee Smith Gets Prison in Sex Case

(Akron, Ohio) In March 2007, a special-education teacher at Springfield High School, Renee Smith, was arrested for engaging in sexual relations with 17-year-old male students of which at least one was a special-needs student in her class.

In July, 37-year-old Smith pleaded guilty in Summit County Common Pleas Court to one felony count of sexual battery, two felony counts of corrupting another with drugs and two misdemeanor counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Earlier today, Renee Smith was in court for sentencing.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer gave Smith two years for each of the second-degree felonies and one year for the other sexual battery offense, ordering the sentences to run simultaneously.

The judge also found Smith to be a Tier Three sexual offender, which means she must register her address with the county sheriff for the rest of her life following her release from prison.

Smith, who had been with the school district for 14 years and had won awards for innovative programs with her special-needs students, told the judge she was "truly sorry for all the hurt and pain" she had caused.

Stormer allowed Smith to say good-bye to her parents, who were seated in the rear of the courtroom, before being led away to the county jail for the initial steps of her state prison sentence.

Smith was in tears.