Back in June, Alexandria Vera, a former Texas middle school teacher, was taken into custody after she allegedly had sex with one of her 13-year-old students. This morning, she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
According to KHOU, Vera was originally charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, a more severe felony with a possible punishment of life in prison. By pleading guilty to the lesser charge, Vera's possible sentence will be capped at a maximum of 30 years in prison, though defense attorneys are asking for probation.
The Houston Chronicle reports the 24-year-old was a teacher at Aldine Independent School Disctrict's Stovall Middle School in Houston, Texas. Vera met the 13-year-old boy when he was in her 8th grade English class during summer school. Within months, the boy introduced Vera as his girlfriend to his parents, and Vera said they "had sex on almost a daily basis at her home" and that they were "in love." The relationship went on for nine months.
Vera, who has a 4-year-old daughter, became pregnant with the victim's child in January, and the family was "very supportive and excited." But after Child Protective Services questioned Vera and the student in February, Vera underwent an abortion.
Vera was fired from her teacher job when the relationship was exposed. She's been free on a $100,000 bail. She's required to wear a GPS ankle monitor, and she's not allowed to contact the victim. She also must stay away from schools.
She will be sentenced in January.
