Updated with sentencing information.
Jan 4, 2007 - It's the first day of trial for George Barber, 45, a Las Cruces High School physical education teacher and track coach, for having sex with a 17-year-old female student.
[TT: Theodorson was sentenced to three years probation.Barber was one of four LCHS staffers to be arrested in 2005 for sexual misconduct with students.
Former band director Brian Theodorson, substitute teacher Ralph Montaño and janitor Hector Lloyd Montes were each arrested in November 2005. [Emphasis mine.]
Montaño pleaded no contest and received 18 months' probation and was ordered to register as a sex offender.
Montes is awaiting trial on one count of criminal sexual contact after he was found alone with a 15-year-old female student.]
KVIA reports that New Mexico law classifies any sexual relationship between a student and a school employee as rape. [TT - the penalties, however, don't seem particularly harsh.]
UPDATE: Jan 5, 2007 Charges, apparently, also include one count of bribery of a witness.
UPDATE: Jan 5, 2007 Barber found guilty Friday on two counts. He was found not guilty on the remaining eight counts.
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[TT: Don't expect a heavy sentence. It's instructive to note the headlines from various media.]
KFOX14: Las Cruces teacher found guilty.
Albuquerque Journal: Jury Convicts Former Las Cruces Coach on Sex Charges
El Paso Times: Ex-teacher guilty of having sex with student
KFDA Ch 10: Jury convicts former Las Cruces coach on two sex charges
---> Las Cruces Sun-News: Ex-teacher found not guilty of 9 counts ]
UPDATE Feb 26 - Barber was sentenced to 36 months, described as "the maximum penalty allowed for his conviction on two counts of criminal sexual penetration by a school employee."
Clarification Feb 27 - Barber will be given credit for the eight months behind bars so he will serve 28 months. Barber is married, the father of two, has moved to Texas and has no intention of teaching again.
