Alabama Teacher Amanda Watkins Gets 10 Years - Updated

(Colbert County, Alabama) Earlier today, former teacher Amanda Watkins was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

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Alabama Teacher Amanda Watkins Guilty - Updated
[Previous 11/4/11 post]
(Tuscumbia, Alabama) The trial of former teacher Amanda Watkins has concluded with the jury rendering a verdict of guilty on charges of rape and sodomy of a 15-year-old student.

Watkins had pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease.

Her attorney, Ralph Holt of Florence, argued she suffered from eight mental and physical disorders.

Watkins' psychiatrist testified the former junior high school teacher has been mentally ill since she was raped at age 16 and has dissociative disorder, or multiple personalities.

Dr. Andrea Stoves of Birmingham told the jury she believed Watkins was in a dissociated state when the incident occurred.

This week, Watkins' father, Delmer Duboise, insisted his daughter needs help, not punishment.

"She needs help versus prison. What happened happened because of her mental problems. She is going to have to have help and prison is not the answer," said Duboise.

But in closing arguments, prosecutors emphasized the evidence showed Watkins was making rational decisions that day and even admitted to investigators she had done something wrong.

A sentencing date has not been set.

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Alabama Teacher Scheduled for Trial - Updated
[Previous 11/24/10 post]
(Tuscumbia, Alabama) Former teacher Amanda Watkins has been scheduled for trial on January 24, 2011.

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Alabama Teacher Caught Naughty with Boy
[Previous 12/21/09 post]
(Muscle Shoals, Alabama) An eighth-grade English teacher at Sheffield Junior High School, Amanda Watkins, was arrested Saturday for allegedly engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior with a 15-year-old male student. Watkins faces a charge of second-degree rape.

Authorities told the Shoals Insider an officer was dispatched to Covenant Christian School off Highway 43 on an alarm call, when the officer discovered Watkins and the teen engaged in a sexual act inside a car near the school.

Watkins has worked at Sheffield Junior High for about six years.

She is tenured with the school system.

Sheffield superintendent Dr. Richard Gardner said Watkins has not been suspended at this time.

The school system is waiting to get a police report and more information before moving forward.

Watkins faces a possible long prison term if convicted of rape.