Ex-Checotah teacher sentenced to 15 years for sex with students
BY JERRY FINK World Correspondent
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
9/05/12 at 11:11 PM
EUFAULA — Tearful pleas of remorse and claims of being sexually abused as a child fell on deaf ears Wednesday as a judge sentenced a former Checotah middle school teacher to a total of 15 years in prison for charges related to having sex with teenage students last year.
Michelle McCutchan, 40, was convicted in August of two counts of second-degree rape involving sex with two 16-year-old male students; two counts of sodomy; one count of child neglect for failing to protect a 15-year-old girl from inappropriate sexual behavior; and four counts of providing alcohol to minors.
“This is a monstrous case,” Associate District Judge James Pratt said prior to passing sentence. “Monstrous.”
McCutchan took the stand earlier to plead for mercy, telling the court she was sexually abused by a family member from age 12 to 15.
Pratt noted that she had not revealed the alleged abuse until she took the stand on Wednesday.
She also told the court that she feels “guilty every day that the young men have to deal with what I did.”
Pratt rejected her remorse as too little too late.
“The first time you mention … your concern for these kids — the first time is on the stand (today).”
McCutchan faced a possible life sentence.
Associated Images:
Michelle McCutchan
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