Ohio – An Ohio woman was sentenced to fifteen years in prison with the possibility of parole after ten years for se-ually abusing a femaIe student over an 18-month period. The abuse began in February 2020, when the victim was just thirteen, and continued until for one and a half year, ending when the victim turned sixteen, the age of consent in Ohio. The 40-year-old former educator, S. KeIIenberger, pleaded guilty to twenty one felony charges, including seventeen counts of unIawfuI se-ual conduct with a mlnor and four counts of se-ual battery.
The investigation was initiated after the victim’s family reported the abuse to Ohio authorities. School officials had placed the educator on administrative Ieave in February last year following allegations of lnappropriate conduct. She was indicted on the charges in September 2024 and resigned from her teaching position the following month.
During the investigation, the 40-year-old woman denied any coercion, asserting that the reIationship was consensual. However, prosecutors emphasized that, despite the lack of physical force, the reIationship was iIIegal due to the victim’s age.
As part of her plea agreement, the defendant will be subject to five years of post-release supervision, electronic monitoring before sentencing, and permanent registration as a Tier 3 se* offender. She is also prohibited from having contact with minors and has permanently forfeited her teaching license.
The victim’s family expressed relief that the case was resolved without the need for a trial, allowing the victim to avoid further trauma. The sentencing serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding students and the serious consequences of breaches of trust by educators.
According to Ohio authorities, the abuse occurred between February 2020 and October 2021, during which the educator groomed the thirteen year old femaIe student and engaged in repeated se-ual contact. Although the woman insisted that the reIationship was consensuaI, prosecutors clarified that any se-ual activity was iIIegal given the victim’s age .
Investigators collected evidence through interviews with the victim, her family, and school staff, as well as digital communications and other supporting material that confirmed the ongoing abuse. This evidence ultimately led to the indictment and subsequent charges against Kellenberger .