Ohio Teacher Gets Prison in Sex Case

(Newark, Ohio) A 32-year-old special education teacher formerly at Johnston High School, Sonya N. Horn, has been sentenced to four years in prison for sexually assaulting an 18-year-old developmentally-disabled student.

Horn pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and entered an Alford plea of no contest to four counts of sexual battery.

Horn was accused of sexually assaulting the student between June 1, 2011, and Oct. 1, 2011, at Johnstown High School and at another location. She then was accused of falsifying a document or misleading authorities between Nov. 2, 2011, and Jan. 3, 2012.

Horn pled guilty Nov. 27 and was sentenced Monday morning by Licking County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Marcelain.

As part of the sentence, Horn will be classified as a tier III sexual offender, meaning she will have to register with the sheriff of the county where she resides every 90 days for the rest of her life.

Meanwhile, Horn's Ohio teaching credentials have been permanently revoked.