Crime & Safety
Not Guilty Plea for Par Hills Teacher Accused of Having Sex With Student
Jenna Leahey, of Morristown, is considering plea deal.
The female teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old male Parsippany Hills High School student pleaded not guilty Tuesday at her arraignment.
Jenna Leahey, 32, of Morristown, a former teacher and coach at the school, allegedly began the relationship with sexually explicit text messages with the student, which then escalated to mutual sexual contact, according to Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp.
The not guilty plea on seven charges: sexual assault, child endangerment, official misconduct, and criminal sexual contact, came just a day after the prosecution offered a plea deal, according to nj.com.
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The deal would give Leahey a five-year state prison term and force her to surrender her teacher’s license and face Megan’s Law restrictions, the report said. Leahey’s attorney, Stephanie Forbes, said the deal is under consideration.
In the meantime, Leahey is free on $50,000 bail and cannot have contact with anyone under the age of 18.
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