A former Texas middle school teacher, Marka Bodine, has been sentenced to 60 days in jail since confessing to sexually abusing a former student over three years, People reports.
The 32-year-old is heading to jail for two months after pleading guilty to continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14. The abuse started when the teen was 13.
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Bodine will also serve 10 years on probation, register as a sex offender, and attend therapy.
Authorities arrested Bodine in April 2021 after complaining that the student was harassing her.
She told the principal that the student had gained access to her photos and manipulated them. The former teacher also stated the student was at risk of harming himself.
The student told authorities that the two met via an online game when she befriended him. Shortly after, the educator sent explicit photos to the students–and started having sex in 2018 after he turned 13.
The two had sex in her classroom and in her vehicle.
In May, the authorities arrested Bodine for her crimes.
Bodine is expected to report to jail in June 2023 because she just gave birth. The student is not the father.
The Harris County prosecutor expressed disappointment in the judge’s decision. Harris County Prosecutor Janna Oswald requested 20-40 years in prison.
Oswald told KPRC:
There are certain types of cases that, in my opinion, really should only warrant punishment, and that is this kind of case,” said Oswald, chief of the Crimes Against Children Division. “I’m heartbroken for the complainant and his family. I’m really disappointed in the outcome as a prosecutor — a child abuse prosecutor, and I’m disappointed as a citizen of Harris County.
