Teacher Gets Jail for Same-Sex Relations with Student - Updated

(San Jose, California) First the teacher made friends with the student and, then, she kissed her. Passionate kisses came and later a sexual relationship. Today, the teacher was sentenced to six months in the county jail.

Rita Brum, 24, was also given three years' formal probation for her illicit relationship with a female student she met while working as a first-year teacher at Mount Pleasant High School in East San Jose. On June 11, Brum pleaded no contest to one count of sexual penetration of a person under 18 and accepted a court offer of six months in jail on June 11.

Her attorney Edward N. Ajlouny said Brum has taken "full responsibility" for the relationship and believes the young woman received a just punishment.

"From the beginning, she did take responsibility," Ajlouny said. "She was the adult. She is remorseful for what happened. It was a fair sentence."

It's not clear whether Brum will be required to attend sex offender counseling or register as a sex offender.

* * * * *
California Teacher Accused of Same-Sex Relations with Student
[Previous 3/12/09 post]
(San Jose, California) A 24-year-old physical education teacher and coach at Mt. Pleasant High School, Rita Brum, faces arraignment today for allegedly having an illicit sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student.

Brum was arrested on February 26th and released on bail.

Her attorney Edward N. Ajlouny said Brum plans to take "full responsibility" for the relationship. Ajlouny said he hopes to get the "best plea deal possible" for his client.

"Rita is a very good person who made a mistake," Ajlouny said. "She had some issues in her past that may have led her to make this choice. We're only hoping that we can avoid significant jail time. She's taken responsibility and she is trying to improve herself and get clarity so this won't happen again."

I believe the thinking is understandable. I've personally known of individuals who, because of issues, have desired to mix it up with a high school girl.

According to police reports, Brum met the 17-year-old girl, a student at Mt. Pleasant High, early in the school year.

In the following months, their relationship grew as they spent time together on and off campus.

It wasn't until Brum invited the girl to her house to watch a Sharks hockey game in early December that they began kissing. The girl told police it was a "long passionate kiss" and she was "freaked out" after, because it was a teacher.

The girl told police she and Brum kissed on campus a couple of times and eventually began a sexual relationship.

Afterward, the girl's mother found a love letter and confronted Brum. Officers were called to the confrontation and became alerted to the alleged sex.