Texas Teacher Gets 180 Days in Sex Case - Updated

(Mineola, Texas) Former teacher Jo Ann Stephens has reportedly been sentenced to 180 days in the Wood County Jail and 10 years of probation.

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Texas Teacher Guilty in Sex Case - Updated
[Previous 3/11/11 post]
(Mineola, Texas) Jo Ann Stephens pleaded guilty to one count of improper relationship with a student. Other charges were dismissed as part of the plea dea. Sentencing is scheduled for April 27.

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Texas Teacher Indicted in Sex Case - Updated
[Previous 3/5/11 post]
(Mineola, Texas) Former phys ed teacher Jo Ann Stephens, 43, has been indicted on charges stemming from an alleged three-year relationship with a 15-year-old student.

Stephens faces charges of online solicitation of minor, improper relationship between educator and a student, and two counts of sexual assault of child. After booking Friday at the Wood County Jail, Stephens was released on a combined total bond amount of $100,000.

Meanwhile, Stephen's attorney Dan Wyde has been talking to the media and accusing the lead investigator in the case, Captain Joyce Box, of threatening witnesses.

Wyde says the indictments would have never been passed up if the lead investigator, Captain Joyce Box, did not threaten witnesses.

"She threatened every one of them with perjury. She went to each one of them that she could find. I would say at least 12 or 24, and she said ‘If you don't tell me, that the complainant told you that this happened. Then, I'm going to have you hauled in front of the grand jury, and if you deny it in front of the grand jury, then I'm going to have indicted for perjury.'"

Box says that's not true. She says she told the witnesses to "tell the truth" or they would be charged with perjury.

Arraignment is scheduled for March 28.

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Texas Teacher in Student Sex Case
[Previous 12/18/10 post bumped]
(Mineola, Texas) A 43-year-old former physical education teacher at the Mineola elementary and middle schools, JoAnn Stephens, was arrested this week for an improper relationship with a student.

The alleged incident took place between Stephens and a 15-year-old male student, in May of 2008 at Lake Holbrook, in Mineola. DNA found in a truck links the student to the accused teacher.

Stephens and the student reportedly were communicating by cell phone calls and text messages on a trac phone that she provided for the student.

Stephens was booked into custody and subsequently released on $25,000 bond.

Interestingly, Stephens is reportedly married to the principal of Mineola High School.