A former drama teacher has been jailed after she had sexual contact with a 15-year-old student.
Jennifer Frechette, 46, was sentenced to 10 years in prison but will only serve nine months after pleading guilty to having illegal sexual contact with someone under the age of 16.
The married teacher was arrested in April 2017. At the time, a pair of security guards told police that they caught Frechette several months earlier with the pupil in her classroom at Wilbur Cross High School, Connecticut.
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They told authorities that they heard noises behind a clothing rack in the middle of a dressing room used for school plays and saw the victim stand up from behind the costume rack.
After inspecting the room, the guards said they saw Frechette sitting on the floor in a fetal position as if she was 'trying to hide'. There were also several unused condoms on the floor.
Frechette reportedly told them: "I don't know what I was thinking. I'm going to lose my job."
According to the arrest warrant, the victim told police that he and Frechette had been flirting via text message and that she performed oral sex on him in December 2016.
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The teenager did not attend the hearing but a statement he had written was read out in court.
As reported by The New Haven Register, it said: "The aftermath of what happened Jan. 5, 2017, still haunts me to this day. I thought I knew what I was doing but now that I'm older, I know that I did not, and I was taken advantage of.
"This experience has drastically changed my life. I walk around with a title on my head as 'the kid who had sex with the teacher'."
The victim said rumours spread quickly over the incident, adding: "Before I even knew it, the whole school had all eyes on me."
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His statement continued: "I laughed about it on the outside but inside I felt hurt and regret. I've been called several names, such as 'dirty,' 'disgusting' and several more.
"I've had teachers approach me differently and I remember wishing that I could just leave school for good."
The student said he had undergone therapy as a result of everything that has happened.
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His statement concluded: "With the help of my parents, I've been able to remain strong and focus on what's really important. Although this experience has completely changed my life, I like to think that it made me a stronger person. Being able to go to school where everyone knows me for the wrong reason was something I didn't think I would be able to do, but I did it.
"I write this sincerely from my heart and I share it in hopes this is the final time I will have to talk about this situation. This has exhausted me and as I'm preparing to go into college, I hope this situation is finally put to an end."
His mother condemned Frechette's actions but said it won't determine her son's life.
Per The New Haven Register, she said: "Mrs Frechette had every opportunity to think about what she was doing and she knew this was wrong! She has children! How would she feel if this happened to one of her kids? Mrs Frechette violated boundaries that should be sacrosanct.
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"I am sure my son will continue to be a considerate, loving, compassionate and thoughtful person who is an asset to the world around him. He will be the best man he can be in life."
At the time of her arrest, Frechette was charged with second-degree sexual assault, fourth-degree sexual assault and two counts of risk of injury to a minor, but these charges were dropped.
Featured Image Credit: NBC ComnecticutTopics: Interesting, US News, crime