Florida Teacher Gets Prison for Sex with Boy - Updated

(Crestview, Florida)

A former teacher accused of fleeing Florida with a teenage boy has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and designated a sexual offender.

Okaloosa County Circuit Judge Michael Flowers sentenced Amanda L. Cooney on several charges, including unlawful sexual activity with a minor, grand theft, burglary and credit card fraud, according to a news release from the state attorney’s office.

After prison, Cooney will spend 10 years on sexual offender probation. She will have a curfew and be allowed no unsupervised contact with children.

She also will be required to register her sexual offender status with authorities and not allowed within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds or convenience stores, Chief Assistant State Attorney Bill Bishop said.

Fifteen years is a fairly stiff sentence and, arguably, it was earned.

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Florida Teacher Guilty of Multiple Crimes - Updated
[Previous 4/19/12 post]
(Crestview, Florida) Yesterday, former teacher Amanda Cooney pleaded no contest to multiple crimes including burglary, theft, fraud and forgery, and unlawful sex with a minor.

A charge of interfering with the custody of a minor was dropped Wednesday because the teenager wasn’t forced to leave town with Cooney.

“Based upon his actions, that charge became a little questionable,” said Bill Bishop, the chief assistant state attorney in Okaloosa County. “ … He voluntarily went with the woman.”

When Cooney was brought before Circuit Judge Michael Flowers Wednesday, her responses were quiet as she stood next to [defense attorney] Stewart in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs.

“There will not be a jury trial,” said Flowers, who then looked up and added, “although you do have that right.”[…]

Bishop said the state will seek the minimum sentence allowed under law of 95.5 months in prison, but based on her plea Cooney could face up to 90 years.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 11.

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Florida Teacher on Lam with Teen Arrested in Ohio
[Previous 11/5/11 post]
(Montgomery County, Ohio) A 26-year-old reading teacher at Okaloosa Academy Charter School in Fort Walton Beach, Amanda Cooney, on the lam from Florida with a 16-year-old fugitive, has been arrested at a motel in Ohio.

While on routine patrol, officers took note of their vehicle in the Days Inn parking lot.

"Quite honestly [it had] quiet a bit of stuff inside it, almost like a hoarder," says Riverside Deputy Police Chief Michael Brown.

A run of the car's license plate showed the 16-year-old had warrants out for his arrest and that he might be armed and dangerous. So officers went to the pair's room where they took them into custody.

Cooney faces charges of aiding and interfering with a missing child. She and the boy await extradition to Florida.