Philadelphia, PENNSYLVANIA

Sentenced to 10-20 years for sex with a 14-year-old girl.

Feb 6, 2008 -
Joshua Ulrich, 30, a South Philadelphia High School special education teacher, was arrested Feb 2. He is accused of having sex with a 14-year-old female student. He faces charges of statutory rape.

Authorities began an investigation Jan. 21 after the child's mother reported the sexual relationship to police. Ulrich connected with the girl through MySpace.

GUILTY PLEA May 8 - Ulrich pleaded guilty to charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, interference with the custody of a child and corrupting the morals of a minor.

Ulrich will receive 10-20 years in state prison under a law establishing a mandatory sentence for adults having oral or anal sex with a child under 16, said James Carpenter, Assistant Chief of the Philadelphia District Attorney Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit.

He will be sentenced Aug 27. (To give the state time to determine the severity of the classification Uhrich will receive under Megan's Law, which governs sex offenders.)

SENTENCED August 27 - Ulrich was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison. Ulrich was immediately taken into custody after the sentencing hearing. He will be required to undergo sexual-offender treatment while in prison.