Cybersex with children. Sickening. Parole for life, registration as a sex offender.
SENTENCED Apr 13, 2007 - Kathleen Bowler, 29, a long-term substitute teacher at Witherspoon Middle School, was sentenced to four-year suspended sentence for having cybersex with students.
Bowler, now living in Rhode Island, apologized. "I made a big mistake," she said. "I'm sorry."
The parents of two victims, a boy and a girl, then 13, wrote strongly worded letters to Judge Thomas Kelly, blaming the school district for what happened to their children.
Bowler had pleaded guilty in December to two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, for her actions during between February and June of 2005. She also served as the boys' wrestling coach at the school. Bowler, who taught "modern living," a class akin to home economics, worked as a long term substitute teacher in the 2004-2005 school year.Update Apr 14 - In addition to the suspended sentence, Bowler will be required to register her address as a sex offender under Megan's Law and also is subject to parole for life. Kelly required Bowler to get psychiatric counseling specifically for sex offenders as was recommended in a psychological evaluation.
The judge warned her that if she did not follow the requirements, she would be in violation of her parole and sent to jail.
"You were in a position of trust with young people," Kelly said. "You were a surrogate parent, in a sense, while these children were in your custody. Children are vulnerable. They look up to teachers. They trust them."
July 19 - The parents of one student are suing the school district and Bowler alleging that district officials failed to act for 81 days after they were notified about the teacher's behavior. Bowler now lives in Rhode Island.
