Washington Educator Gets Hand Slap in Sex Case - Update

(Goldendale, Washington) Former teaching assistant at Goldendale High School Cheri Powers, 45, pleaded guilty yesterday to having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

Cheri Powers pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual misconduct with a minor. She was sentenced to 364 days in jail, however, 329 days were suspended and 30 days were converted to work crew detail.

Powers was a part-time teacher and an assistant coach for track and cross-country in the Goldendale School District. She was arrested in April 2012 and fired from her job.

The school district says Powers was a special-needs teacher, but the victim was not one of her students. A community member reportedly notified the school district about the case.

With her sentence largely suspended, it's not surprising that Powers will also be able to walk away without having to register as a sex offender.

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Washington Educator Accused in Sex Case
[Previous 5/2/12 post]
(Goldendale, Washington) A 44-year-old teaching assistant at Goldendale High School, Cheri Powers, has been accused of engaging in sex with a 16-year-old male student.

Powers has been fired from her position and faces a charge of first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor.

Powers was an assistant track and field, and cross country coach at Goldendale High, as well as a para-educator, working one-on-one with a special education student for the past ten years.

Powers was arrested by Goldendale police last week and is facing first degree sexual misconduct charges.

She has been released from custody, and is awaiting her arraignment.

A court appearance is scheduled for Monday.