Texas teacher sentenced to five years in prison for having sex with five students

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Brittni Colleps, the Kennedale teacher accused of having improper sexual relationships with several of her students, has been found guilty on all counts of five indictments against her.

Colleps was sentenced to five years in prison Friday afternoon.

Colleps showed no emotion as the guilty verdicts were read on all 16 counts of the indictments. Her husband, on the other hand, was emotional and crying as his wife, with her bail now revoked, was led from the courtroom in the custody of the state.

Colleps was indicted on five charges of having an inappropriate relationship between a teacher and student after school officials learned of the allegations and took the matter to the Arlington police.

The trial began earlier this week with graphic testimony including text messages and a cell phone video that showed one of the alleged sexual incidents. The prosecution wrapped up their case Thursday before closing arguments began Friday morning.

The five victims all testified to having a sexual relationship with the married mother of three in her Arlington home between April and May of 2011. All five of the students were in Colleps' senior English class in the spring of 2011 and all of the victims were at least 18 when the incidents occurred.

Despite their age, Texas law forbids sexual relationships between teachers and students, even if the students are legal adults and consent to the relationship. Several of the victims testified Thursday to not wanting to testify in the trial with one of them saying he didn't want to press charges.

After closing arguments, the jury took about an hour to render the verdict.

Suzi wrote:Their age didn't matter, she was in a position of authority over them. How about if prison guard has sex with an inmate who is over age?

RedBedroom wrote:A law is a law. She broke it and was sentenced accordingly.

captainbryce wrote:I don't think anybody is actually questioning that. I think the point is that this is another example of a victim-less crime based on a nonsensical law. Yes, a teacher (or anybody in a position of authority) should not be having sexual relations with a student and of course she should have been fired for this (not to mention the fact that she also committed adultery and embarrassed her whole family). But 5 years in prison? For WHAT exactly? That's just stupid!

RedBedroom wrote:Aren't you questioning it?

RedBedroom wrote:It's not that I don't agree with you. In this case, minors were not involved. So, I don't think the law should apply to individuals over 18. But at the end of the day, this law is on the books. Stupid or not, when we break the laws our state imposes, we risk prosecution. She took a risk and now will be in prison for a while because of it.

captainbryce wrote:Sorry but exactly who where the "victims" supposed to be in this case? The 18 year old ADULTS who consented to sexual relations with another adult and didn't want to press charges?