Cincinnati, OHIO

Headline: "Ex-teacher indicted for affair"
Headline: "Ex-teacher admits affair with student"
- Cincinnati Enquirer

INDICTED Dec 10, 2007 -
Michael T. McKinney, 25, a social studies for one year at Arlington Heights Academy , *** was indicted on three counts of sexual battery for a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student last spring.

His attorney says the charges are unjustified because the student was an emancipated adult, taking courses at Cincinnati State at the time of the relationship. The grand jury indicted him because Ohio’s sexual battery statutes make it a crime for a teacher to have sexual contact with a student enrolled at the school where the teacher is employed, regardless of that student’s age.

McKinney resigned last May, citing a desire to go to law school.

*** Arlington Heights Academy is an alternative high school for at-risk students

GUILTY PLEA June 11, 2008 - McKinney pleaded guilty to one count of attempted gross sexual imposition, a crime with a maximum punishment of 12 months in jail. The prosecutor said he’ll probably get probation. He will have to to register as a sex offender for 15 years.

McKinney’s attorneys objected to the sexual offender registration, in part because McKinney is in law school and wants to be an attorney. Katie Pridemore, the assistant prosecutor who negotiated the plea deal retorted that McKinney should be listed as sexual offender, saying that if he did not adhere to professional boundaries as a teacher, he’ll have even more boundaries to comply with as a lawyer.

“He preyed on somebody who was subordinate to him. That’s somebody you keep an eye on,” she said.

The student was 18 at the time, living on her own and taking college courses. However, she was still enrolled in the high school. Ohio laws prohibit teachers, coaches and other adults in authority from having sex with or molesting children enrolled in their school. The law does not make an exception if a student is 18 or has enough credits to graduate

He will be sentenced July 2.