Illinois Teacher Gets 30 Years in Sex Case - Updated

(Rockford, Illinois) Former Spanish teacher at Durand High School, Jennifer Diane Bland, 25, appeared in Winnebago County Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to sexual contact with six male students, ages 14 to 17, in 2009.

Bland, in her position as a teacher at the school, was in a position of trust or authority to the victims at the time the offenses were committed.

The offenses include unlawful sexual contact between Bland and six of the victims, and soliciting the seventh victim for a video of the victim unclothed and engaged in a sexual act.

As a result of her convictions on counts of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and child pornography, Jennifer Bland was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

And she's only 25 years old. Ouch!

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Illinois Teacher Accused of Sex with Boys
[Previous 10/24/09 post]
(Durand, Illinois) A 23-year-old Spanish teacher with the Durand School District, Jennifer Diane Bland, was arrested by Winnebago County Sheriff's deputies for alleged inappropriate relations with several male students.

Bland has been charged with six counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

A Winnebago County judge read the charges to her via video conference in court Thursday afternoon.

Prosecutors say Bland had sexual contact with four male students between the ages of 14 and 17. The first incident allegedly happened last spring; the others in September and October.

Bland was booked into custody with bond set at $200,000. A court appearance is scheduled for November 19.