Pennsylvania Teacher Gets Prison in Sex Case - Updated

(Allentown, Pennsylvania) Earlier today, teacher Gabrielle Suzanne Marvelli received a shock as she was sent to prison for engaging in sex with a 17-year-old student on prom weekend.

Marvelli, 39, of Quakertown looked stunned as Judge Maria L. Dantos sentenced her to nine months to five years in state prison.

About 15 friends and family members cried and shook their heads as Marvelli, who had been free on bail, was led off to prison. Marvelli wept loudly.

"You violated everything that a teacher is supposed to be," Dantos told Marvelli moments before issuing the sentence.

Married and mother of a 10-year-old, Marvelli had sought probation.

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Pennsylvania Teacher Guilty in Sex Case - Updated
[Previous 11/22/11 post]
(Allentown, Pennsylvania) Earlier today, teary-eyed 39-year-old teacher formerly at Allen High School, Gabrielle Suzanne Marvelli, admitted to engaging in sex with a 17-year-old male student on prom weekend.

Marvelli's guilty plea to corruption of minors carries a possible sentence of five years in prison down to a minimum of nine months in jail.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew Falk said he's not opposed to a county jail sentence instead of a state prison term or to placing Marvelli in the jail's work-release program.

Barely audible, Marvelli, who is married, told Judge Maria L. Dantos she's not teaching anymore but is working two jobs. She didn't say where.

Following an internal investigation, the Allentown School District confirmed she no longer teaches for the district, but the school district hasn't said if she was fired or resigned.

Sentencing is scheduled for next month.

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Pennsylvania Teacher Accused in Sex Case
[Previous 6/17/11 post]
(Allentown, Pennsylvania) A 38-year-old teacher at William Allen High School, Gabrielle Suzanne Marvelli, has been accused of engaging in sex with a 17-year-old male student.

She faces a charge of misdemeanor corruption of minors.

"The victim in this case was, at the time of the alleged incident, only one week away from reaching majority under the law," said Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin in a statement. "Had he reached his 18th birthday, this case could not have been brought."

"I have chosen to approve this charge because teachers must be held to a high standard and, stating the obvious, should not enlist their students to engage in sexual relations," Martin's statement continued.

Marvelli was booked into custody and released on $10,000 bond.