Texas Teacher Gets Probation in Sex Case - Updated

(North Richland Hills, Texas) Last week, teacher and cheerleading coach formerly at Richland High School, Tiffanie Bedinger, 45, pleaded guilty to improper relation with a student, who was 17 at the time the crime.

As a result, Bedinger was sentenced to five years of probation.

She started sending him text messages in February 2011 after he had just broken up with his girlfriend, according to the affidavit. The relationship between Bedinger and the student progressed to the point where they were girlfriend and boyfriend, the affidavit stated.

Bedinger was aware, however, that the relationship was wrong because she always advised him to delete messages from her. He told authorities that "it was pretty much understood that I was supposed to be trying to protect her and she was supposed to be protecting me I guess."

Initially, the student saved Bedinger's telephone number, but later changed it to symbols so no one would know who she was, according to the affidavit.

The two then had unprotected sex several times at her home for about three months, the affidavit stated.

Reportedly, Bedinger had sex with the boy to convince him to stop smoking marijuana.

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Texas Teacher Accused of Improper Relations
[Previous 10/19/11 post]
(North Richland Hills, Texas) A 44-year-old teacher and cheerleading coach formerly at Richland High School, Tiffanie Bedinger, has been accused of engaging in an improper relationship with a 17-year-old student.

North Richland Hills police and Birdville school district officials began the investigation in April after the student’s family made them aware of the allegation.

Birdville school district spokesman Mark Thomas has said that Bedinger resigned, citing "personal reasons."

Bedinger taught business education at the campus from August 2006 to April 22, 2011, when she resigned, Thomas said Wednesday.

The student has graduated.

Bedinger, who also used the name Tiffanie Friend during her tenure at Birdville, was also varsity cheerleading coach at Richland High, Thomas said.

Bedinger was booked and released on $30,000 bond.