Former girls’ basketball and lacrosse coach, Pamela Balogh, 44, has been paroled after serving three and one-half years of her original seven-year sentence.
Lesbian Teacher Gets Prison for Sex Crimes
[Previous 5/10/08 post]
(Somerville, New Jersey) Shackled and dressed in a blue suit, former girls' PE teacher Pamela Balogh appeared in Somerset County Court yesterday for sentencing. Balogh choked up as she apologized to her victim and expressed regret for embarrassing her family and the school.
Superior Court Judge Edward Coleman imposed concurrent prison terms of seven years for the 2nd-degree sexual assault, four years for each count of 3rd-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact and 12 months for the 4th-degree criminal sexual contact. Balogh was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution for medical expenses related to counseling of her victim and other treatment.
The victim and her parents emotionally addressed the court. The mother remarked, "Personally, I feel like I've been sucker-punched."
The teenager's father talked about watching his daughter trying to regain what she has lost, taking medication, undergoing therapy and coming home exhausted.Notably, Balogh rejected a plea deal for 10 years in prison. Obviously, she benefitted by going to trial. It's unknown whether she will be required to register as a sex offender.
"I struggle to understand why this has happened to my daughter," he said.
The young woman said, "My life has been split into categories of before and after."
She has suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome and doesn't play any of the sports she once did. And she doesn't know how to reconcile the guilt she feels for telling the truth.
To Balogh she said: "Pam, I don't care what sentence you get ... I refuse to feel bad for your going to jail."
She paused through tears, then added: "Bottom line: I was a child. I was innocent. I was whole ... Bottom line: You were wrong and you should have known better."
[Previous 12/08/07 entry - bumped]
(Somerset County, New Jersey) In December 2006, a physical education teacher and girls basketball coach at Immaculata High School, Pamela Balogh, was arrested for allegedly engaging in sex with a 15-year-old female student. The sexual assaults occurred primarily in Balogh's school office beginning in December 2004 and continuing through September 2005.
Balogh was charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, fourth-degree criminal sexual contact and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
In March 2007, Balogh was offered a plea bargain of 10 years in prison for admitting guilt. She rejected the plea deal and took her chances at trial.
This week, 40-year-old Pamela Balogh was convicted by a jury of three women and nine men on four of five counts she faced. On the most serious charge, first-degree aggravated sexual assault, Balogh was found not guilty.
After the verdict was read, Superior Court Judge Edward Coleman revoked Balogh's bail and, showing no emotion, she was taken away in handcuffs to the Somerset County Jail.
Balogh faces a possible 10 years in prison when sentenced. No sentencing date has been announced.
Also: The Jawa Report
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