A teacher convicted of having a s£xual relationship with a student will not be facing prison time, but will serve out her sentence on probation.
In November 2024, 26-year-old Shawnee Nicole Despain pleaded guilty to a charge of an improper relationship between educator and student after it was revealed she had a s£xual relationship with one of her pupils.
The 17-year-old pupil attended Rockdale High School in Texas, where Despain taught agricultural science.
Despain resigned from her role in September 2023 after an investigation revealed the inappropriate relationship. Despain was also found to be pregnant, with DNA testing showing her husband was not the father.
However, she initially hid the paternity of the child from her husband until everything blew up.
Proof of grooming was found on the criminal’s phone, with text messages professing love, and footage of the pair having s£x found on Despain’s snapchat.
Surrendering on the November 7, 2023, Despain was first charged with child pornography and enacting an improper relationship.
Teacher-student relationships are usually considered a second-degree crime, eligible for up to 20 years in prison.
However, during a sentencing hearing last week, District Judge John W. Youngblood instead placed Despain on a 10-year probation. The former teacher forfeited her teaching license for the offence for which she pleaded guilty, which does not require her to be registered as a s£x offender.
During the hearing , Milam County District Attorney Brian Price argued that the accused deserved prison time. Price pointed out that if the case were to involve a male teacher and female student, the outcome may have differed.
Price commented: “My argument to the judge was she was in a position of power and trust over her students and she used that to abuse this young man, and that is going to affect him his entire life.
“People put in a position of authority and trust should be held to a higher standard, not a lower one.”