Dec 2, 2007 -
A jury found Ricky James, 50, a Bryan High ROTC instructor, guilty of second-degree felony sexual assault of a child charge for having a sexual relationship with an underage student.
The same jury decided that he will receive probation. A district judge will set the conditions next month. It could include up to six months in jail. Prosecutors Prosecutors argued that probation should be out of the question.
The defense witnesses during the sentencing trial included his wife and two sons. The defense lawyer pleaded for the jury to keep the family intact. During the trial, defense attorneys Cameron Reynolds and Craig Greening suggested that the teen -- now 17 -- lied about a relationship after an over-protective and suspicious mother pressured her to make an outcry. Teacher Eve Wallace said the teen was close to her and had confided that her mother put her up to filing false charges. The teen denied talking to Wallace. The prosecution suggested that the teacher had taken sides and was inserting herself into the investigation -- an allegation she denied.
According to the defense, James will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
The illicit relationship lasted nine months, until the teen's mother -- suspicious after he had continually ignored her orders to stop giving her daughter rides home -- persuaded her daughter to speak out.The girl was 15-years-old when the sexual relationship began.
Full Name: Ricky Ray James
