Woman convicted for second time in student rape trial

A former East Irondequoit teacher's aide was found guilty Thursday by a Monroe County jury of raping a former student.

Jennifer Kennard, 49, whose previous conviction was overturned by an appellate court, was convicted of third-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child.

Kennard was employed as a teacher's aide at the East Irondequoit Middle School when she met a 13-year-old boy with special needs and had sexual intercouse with the boy at the Rochester Airport Marriott in Greece.

She had sex with the boy in February 2013 and was arrested the following month. When she was arrested, she was no longer employed in the school district.

The appellate court ruling said that Monroe County Court Judge Vincent Dinolfo erred during Kennard's first trial in failing to suppress statements that Kennard made to police after she invoked her right to speak to an attorney

“I am so proud of the victim who has endured two separate trials, spanning a three-year period," Assistant District Attorney Amanda Balling said in a statement. "His testimony enabled us to successfully prosecute this case, twice. We hope this verdict brings some form of closure to this young man and allows him to move on with his life.”

Kennard is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 23 by acting Monroe County Court Judge Thomas Rainbow Morse. She faces up to four years in state prison and 10 years of post-release supervision. Kennard will also have to register as a sex offender.

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