Washington Teacher Gets Jail for Sex with Students - Update

(Tacoma, Washington)

The families of high school students who had sex with former Tacoma teacher Meredith Powell expressed anger that she will only spend six months behind bars.

The 25-year-old former Lincoln High School math teacher pleaded guilty in July to two counts of child rape and one count of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

In addition to six months in jail, Powell must register as a sex offender for life.

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Washington Teacher Guilty of Sex with Students - Update
[Previous 7/24/14 post]
(Tacoma, Washington)

A former Tacoma math teacher accused of having sexual relations with her students made a plea deal Wednesday that could get her a shorter time behind bars.

Meredith Powell was teaching at Lincoln High School when male students came forward early this year accusing her of sending inappropriate texts and engaging in sexual activity. Wednesday she pleaded guilty to two counts of rape of a child in the third degree and one count of communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

Tacoma Schools representatives said they were grateful she finally admitted to her wrongdoing that ultimately affected students and her colleagues.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 29.

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Washington Teacher Accused of Sex with Students
[Previous 2/6/14 post]
(Tacoma, Washington) A 24-year-old math teacher at Lincoln High School, Meredith Claire Powell, has been accused of engaging in sex with students.

Powell faces counts of third-degree child rape and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

Tacoma schools spokesman Dan Voelpel said the district received an anonymous tip about allegations of sexual activity with students at Lincoln High on Tuesday and immediately passed that information along to the Tacoma Police Department.

Powell was placed on paid leave according to Voelpel. He said when the district learned Powell had been arrested she was placed on unpaid leave.

Powell was booked into custody at the Pierce County Jail.