Oak Ridge, TENNESEE

INDICTED Dec 7, 2006 - Montgomery "Monty" Koons, 50, has been indicted on three counts of aggravated statutory rape and three counts of sexual battery by an authority figure for involvement with a student.

Info: An aggravated statutory rape charge can be filed if there is a difference of more than 10 years in age between the minor and the suspect. The more serious felony is sexual battery by an authority figure, court officials said.

The school Superintendent notified the state Board of Education's teacher licensure office of the investigation. And unlike Baltimore, "a new board rule keeps track of teachers under investigation should they move from one school system and seek a job in another system." Koons was twice was disciplined for hitting students, his personnel file indicates.

UPDATE: (Dec 18, 2006) Koons pleaded not guilty at his arraignment.

GUILTY PLEA Nov 5, 2007 - Koons pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated statutory rape, in exchange for sexual battery charges against him being dropped.Koons could be sentenced to four years in prison and two years of probation.

He will also be required not to have any contact with the victim, give up his teaching certificate and to register as a sex offender.

The girl was 15-years-old. A judge will decide in January whether he should be given judicial diversion, something the prosecution opposes.

March 5, 2008 - A probation hearing scheduled for January but was continued until March 17. The middle school principal is opposed to probation.

In a December letter to Criminal Court Judge Don Elledge, Jefferson Middle School Principal Bruce Lay also expressed his concerns about probation.

Though Lay wrote that Koons had made positive contributions while teaching at Jefferson and was successful in offering support to students — many at-risk — the principal nevertheless stated: “I am not in support of callling it even and reducing the consequences for Monty’s unlawful activities.

“Monty is a 51-year-old adult who has consistently demonstrated the ability to discern between wrong and right.”

He also wrote, "I find it difficult to determine the proper consequences for acting in the manner Monty chose. However, I feel strongly that any adult, especially a veteran teacher that become sexually involved with a minor, should not be eligible for parole.”

Lay’s letter also stated that the principal has been disappointed in past cases similar to the Koons’ case and that jail time is an appropriate consequence for adults who have sexually assaulted children.

“I feel we are sending the wrong message when a teacher who has been sexually involved with a minor simply receives probation,” Lay wrote. “Furthermore, it is my opinion that the practice of assigning such individuals probation is not sending a clear message.

CORRECTION - Please see posted comment. Poster is correct. Koons was not sentenced.

SENTENCED November 11 - Koons was sentenced to a year behind bars, followed by six years of supervised probation.

Koons was a longtime marijuana and cocaine user and provided the girl with those drugs on at least one occasion, according to testimony Monday. Koons and the girl also attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings together, the judge was told.

"I can't grant probation," said Criminal Court Judge Don Elledge Monday after an seven-hour sentencing hearing. He said probation would diminish the seriousness of the unlawful act.Elledge also said Koons did not qualify for judicial diversion. Koons was also ordered to give up his teaching certificate and register as a sex offender.