Maine Teacher Gets Prison in Sex Case - Update

(Machias, Maine)

Dianne Leach, 47, was sentenced Friday in Washington County Superior Court to three and a half years in prison with all but 12 months suspended.

Justice Allan Hunter also ordered her to serve two years probation following her release, become a lifetime registrant with the Maine Sex Offender Registry and pay up to $2,100 in restitution to the family of the victim.

During her probation, Leach is to attend sex offender counseling and have no contact with the victim and his immediate family.

Judge Hunter rejected the six months in jail recommendation of the prosecutor and imposed a full year in prison.

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Maine Teacher Guilty in Sex Case
[Previous 2/6/12 post]
(Machias, Maine) In May 2011, a 47-year-old substitute teacher at Ella Lewis School in Steuben, Dianne Leach, was accused of an inappropriate relationship with a student.

Leach was charged with counts of gross sexual assault of a student.

Earlier today, Leach pleaded no contest to two counts of gross sexual assault.

First Assistant District Attorney Paul Cavanaugh is asking the court to impose a 3½-year jail sentence, with all but six months suspended. The state additionally is recommending she serve two years probation following her release.

The charges against Leach stem from allegations that she had sexual relations with a boy who was an eighth-grade student at the Ella Lewis School. Those allegations came to light in March, after a teacher saw a text message on the boy’s cell phone from Leach, Cavanaugh said. The message said, “I love you and miss you,” Cavanaugh said.

Sentencing awaits the results of a pre-sentence evaluation.