Teacher Donna Goebel Gets Prison for Sex with Student - Updated

(Mount Holly, New Jersey) Teacher's assistant Donna Goebel was sentenced to five years in prison Monday in Burlington County Court.

Goebel got a little sympathy from the judge who said he didn't see her as a predator, but more as a woman whose predicament -- being in an awful marriage -- probably led to her "foolish" behavior.

Goebel expressed regrets, however, she continued to maintain that she didn't have sex with the boy.

It's unclear whether incarceration will affect Goebel's reported plans to get married.

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Teacher Donna Goebel Guilty of Sex with Student - Updated
[Previous 7/18/09 post]
(Mount Holly, New Jersey) A Burlington County jury found teacher's assistant Donna Goebel, now 45, guilty yesterday of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old male student.

Goebel testified that she never had sex with the boy, but admitted the relationship was inappropriate because she was an "adult and a mother."

She blamed her former husband with bringing false allegations against her after he found a series of pictures of the teen in her drawer, including ones with him in her bedroom and shower.

Jurors heard a taped conversation of Goebel and the boy during which she advised him that he could tell police about being at her house but also to "just don't say that part." Also, she asked him if he had changed his sheets "since then."

The jury likely placed considerable importance on the taped conversation, asking to rehear it during deliberations.

Goebel sobbed and sat bent over at the defense table after the jury of six men and six women delivered its verdict in a packed courtroom. A county sheriff's officer who is an EMT was summoned to the courtroom.

Officers had to help Goebel walk from the courtroom. She cried loudly and seemed to have trouble breathing as she was handcuffed and taken into custody.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 18 when Goebel faces five to 10 years in state prison.

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South Jersey Teacher Accused of Sex with Student
[Previous 2/8/08 post]
(Burlington County, New Jersey) A 43-year-old teacher's aide, Donna Goebel, was arrested last night for the alleged sexual assault of a student.

Goebel's husband called police on Jan. 24 after he found evidence that led him to suspect she was having "inappropriate relations" with a student.

The student attended school where Goebel worked.

The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office said that in order to maintain the anonymity of the victim, they would not release the name of the school or the victim's gender, age, and hometown. None of the assaults occured on school property, authorities said.

Goebel was booked into custody at a minimum security women's facility in Pemberton Township with bail set at $75,000.