Texas Woman Gets 16 Years for Sex with Boy - Updated

(College Station, Texas) Yesterday, Laura Lee Cole, now 47, accepted a plea deal offered by the prosecution just prior to jurors going off to deliberate her punishment.

Consequently, she agreed to a sentence of 16 years in prison. Cole had faced a possible 20 years each for conviction on two counts of sexual assault.

"We appreciate the jurors for the time they sacrificed and their serious and diligent consideration of this case," said Brian Baker, Assistant District Attorney.

"They made a clear statement that they believed the victim of the sexual assault and would not accept this behavior in Brazos County, with their verdict of guilty. We believe the real possibility that Judge (J.D.) Langley would stack the sentences led to the defendant's acceptance of this significant sentence.

The stereotype that young men can not be a victim of a sexual crime at the hands of an older woman was slapped down by this trial. The bravery shown by one young man and his friends to stand up against that bias and the jury's strong verdict is a tribute to this community," Baker said.

The terms of the sentence allow for Cole to be eligible for parole in eight years.

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Woman Indicted for Sex with Boy
[Previous 4/7/07 post]
(College Station, Texas) Last January, 45-year-old local woman, Laura Lee Cole, was arrested for providing alcohol to boys between the ages of 13 and 15 and having sex with one of them. Cole was jailed with bond set at $230,000.

This week, Cole was indicted by a Brazos County grand jury on two counts of felony sexual assault. If convicted, the charges carry punishment of up to 20 years in prison.

From TheEagle.com:

She was arrested in January, after several boys between the ages of 13 and 15 said she had provided them with alcohol. Police recorded a phone conversation between her and a 13-year-old in which she told him not to tell about the alcohol purchase, court documents state.

Another boy, 14, later told a forensics interviewer about engaging in sexual acts with the woman and described several of her tattoos, according to documents.

Cole also was arrested for seven counts of purchasing and furnishing alcohol to a minor. Those charges are pending in misdemeanor court.

The scheduling of future court appearances was not reported.