Michigan Teacher Gets Probation for Sex Crimes

(Mount Clemens, Michigan) Former Roseville High School French teacher Janelle Batkins was sentenced earlier today in Macomb County Circuit Court to three years' probation.

Batkins must also register as a sex offender, complete 240 hours of community service and continue counseling.

The sentence imposed by Circuit Judge Mark Switalski was surprising to Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Molly Zappitell, who had sought some incarceration.

"It wasn't a one-time incident," Zappitell said. "That is a serious offense."

So, again, a female sex offender walks away from court with no jail. This is getting old.


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Michigan French Teacher & Her Student
[Previous 9/24/07 entry]
(Roseville, Michigan) A 42-year-old teacher at Roseville High School, Janelle Batkins, was arraigned today in a Clinton Township district court on charges related to allegedly engaging in sex with a 17-year-old male student.

Batkins faces two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Batkins, who taught French for 15 years in the district and was named Teacher of the Year in 2002, resigned over the summer.

The married mother of two children, ages 14 and 21, had an affair with the 17-year-old boy from December of 2006 until the end of the last school year, police and prosecutors said.

[ ... ]

The boy's mother brought the allegations to Roseville police in July after finding evidence of the relationship on her son's computer. Her son told detectives he consented to sex with Batkins when he was 17 in places like her home and a car in Roseville, police said.

Batkins was booked and released on $25,000 bond.


[Update 6/2/08]

Janelle Batkins, 42, pleaded no contest to two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in Macomb County Circuit Court. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2nd.