A former Pleasant Ridge High School teacher has pleaded guilty to having sex with a student.
Shannon Young, 36, Lansing, pleaded guilty Friday in Leavenworth County District Court to three counts of unlawful sexual relations.
Young had sexual relations with a 17-year-old boy between August 2009 and June 2010.
The boy was of the legal age of consent for Kansas. But teachers are still prohibited by law from having sexual relations with students at their schools.
Young taught language arts at Pleasant Ridge High School during the 2009-2010 school year. She also was a volleyball coach.
County Attorney Todd Thompson said Young purchased a newer model Mustang convertible, which the boy began driving to and from school. Young and the boy also opened a joint checking account.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 8.
District Judge Gunnar Sundby reviewed state sentencing guidelines with Young Friday.
“Most likely, the outcome would be probation,” Sundby said.
The judge said he also could order Young to serve a jail sanction of up to 60 days.
Defense attorney Deb Snider said Young will have to be part of an offender registry. But the law will not require that Young be registered as a sex offender.
According to Thompson, Young will have to be on the offender registry for 10 years.
Snider said the prosecution has agreed not to file any additional charges related the relationship between Young and the boy.
The county attorney requested that Young undergo a sex offender evaluation. Sundby said he would order such an evaluation as part of a pre-sentencing investigation.
Young is free on bond. Thompson asked Friday that Young be reminded she can’t have contact with the victim.
Since the time of this incident, the law has changed, making unlawful sexual relations a more serious crime. But this does not apply to the Young case because the crimes occurred before the change took place, according to Thompson.
