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Crime & Safety

Former Teacher Sent to Prison for Having Sex with Student

Rachel L. Farrell, of Palmer Township, will spend 5 to 23 months in Northampton County Prison for having sex with one of her students from Bangor Area High School.

The former Bangor Area High School teacher who pleaded guilty to having sex with a 17-year-old student -- sometimes in the parking lot of the in -- was sentenced Friday to prison for five months, according to a report in The Morning Call.

Rachel L. Farrell, of , was up to four teenage students, but pleaded guilty today to only one charge of corrupting a minor.

Farrell's defense attorney had argued for probation, but Judge Emil Giordano gave her prison time. The former teacher will spend 5 to 23 months in Northampton County Prison, followed by three years of probation.

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The only boy to cooperate with authorities, who is now 18, told police that Farrell was his 11th grade reading teacher at Bangor.

He said "he and Farrell had sexual intercourse numerous times at many different locations. Many times were in her car or his car parked in secluded locations," according to the affidavit of probable cause. He said some "sex occurred in the Wal-Mart parking lot on Rt. 248" and also at the Ramada Inn in Tannersville, Monroe County.

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Farell had allegedly admitted to police on Dec. 16 that she had had sex with two 17-year-old boys from the school. She submitted her resignation at the same time.

But in January, District Attorney John Morganelli said Farrell had affairs with up to four students, and had an extended relationship with at least one.

Only one of the students cooperated with police, however, and the district attorney dropped additional charges involving the other boys.

The age of sexual consent in Pennsylvania is 16. But “corruption of minors” is when someone older than 18 corrupts the “morals” of anyone under 18. The statute is listed below.

Corruption of minors.         

§ 6301.  Corruption of minors.        

Offense defined. (1) Whoever, being of the age of 18 years and upwards, by any act corrupts or tends to corrupt the morals of any minor less than 18 years of age, or who aids, abets, entices or encourages any such minor in the commission of any crime, or who knowingly assists or encourages such minor in violating his or her parole or any order of court, commits a misdemeanor of the first degree.            

(2) Any person who knowingly aids, abets, entices or encourages a minor younger than 18 years of age to commit truancy commits a summary offense. Any person who violates this paragraph within one year of the date of a first conviction under this section commits a misdemeanor of the third degree. A conviction under this paragraph shall not, however, constitute a prohibition under section 6105 (relating to persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms).

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