Dover, DELAWARE

Sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Jan 11, 2008 - Jason W. Stalnaker, 33, a Capitol Baptist School teacher who resigned in 2003 to become a bus driver and a tutor, was arrested Wednesday on 295 charges that include first-degree rape and continuous sexual abuse of a child.

The victim, now 21, contacted city police last month. The abuse started when she was 15. Court papers allege that Stalnaker targeted the girl because he knew she had been molested by her grandfather at the age of 7 and “appeared to be weak,” according to court records.

The abuse began in May 2002 while she was a student at the Kesselring Avenue school. In July 2003, the girl and her family moved to Mississippi, and the Monday after she moved Stalnaker returned to work to find an anonymous letter that stated the writer would tell police of the abuse unless Stalnaker resigned.

Stalnaker eventually told his wife of the relationship, the affidavit states. She divorced him in 2005 after a two-year separation.

GUILTY PLEA & SENTENCING Sept 12 - Stalnaker pleaded guilty to a single count of second-degree rape and two counts of fourth-degree rape. Superior Court Judge Robert B. Young noted that he was ignoring sentencing guidelines and imposed a 15-year prison term, including 10 years that must be served before release is considered, and two years of work release.

He sentenced Stalnaker to one year in prison on each of the other two counts and imposed a total of four years of probation.