PITTSBURGH — The first of four teachers who were arrested in the Plum High School sex scandal entered a guilty plea Wednesday, as his trial was set to begin.
Just before jury selection was scheduled to get underway for the trial of former chemistry teacher Jason Cooper, he entered into a plea deal.
However, the judge presiding over the case was unsure he would accept the plea. He would eventually accept the deal after deliberating for a few hours.
A decision was announced at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Under the plea agreement, Cooper, 39, would spend 18 to 36 months in prison with a five-year probation stint and a lifetime requirement that he be registered as a sex offender.
Cooper was charged with having sex with an 18-year-old student over several months in late 2014 and early 2015.
"Very anxious this morning, I think relieved this afternoon," said defense attorney Mike DeRiso of Cooper. "He very much wants to put this behind him. His family is thankful to Judge (David) Cashman for accepting the plea."
Judge David Cashman called Cooper a "predator" who targeted the student, and said he was unsure the plea agreement provided sufficient punishment.
"You are dangerous," Cashman told Cooper.
"I hope everyone can heal from my mistake," Cooper told the court.
The victim also gave a statement on the incident:
<em>"I hope that someday I can trust men and people in general, and even more than that my own judgement...Please make sure this monster stays away from me and my family. We deserve to heal and he needs to pay for this."</em>
Cooper is accused of having sex with an 18-year-old student. According to Pennsylvania law, students cannot legally consent to sex with a teacher, regardless of age.
Prosecutors read a statement from the student in court. It said,"You deserve to rot in jail for what you have done."
Cooper was the first of four teachers who were arrested last year. Three of them are accused of having inappropriate relationships with students.
The Plum School District said this in a statement:
Cooper’s bond was revoked in January, after he was accused of driving past the teen’s home.