It seems you can’t turn on the news without hearing about a teacher having an illicit affair with one of her students. Following in the footsteps of Mary Kay Letrourneau, Kelsey Peterson has been engaging in sexual activity with one of her students.
Kelsey Peterson is 25 years old and her student Fernando Rodriguez is 13. However, not only is he underage, but he is also an illegal immigrant. Kelsey taught Fernando who was placed in her sixth grade math class, though he was in the eighth grade. Apparently, Kelsey Peterson fled with Fernando after rumors began circulating that the two were engaging in a sexual relationship. Kelsey not only taught math, but she also was a basketball coach at Lexington Middle School in Nebraska.
Kelsey and Fernando fled on October 26 and were later seen crossing the Mexico border. This is where the case takes an interesting twist. Though both are from Nebraska, once they crossed the Mexican border it became a matter of concern that Fernando remain in Mexico. The FBI apprehended Kelsey Peterson on November 3, 2007 but Fernando was not allowed to return to the United States. It is still unclear how the fact that Fernando was not a United States citizen will affect the case, and if it will have an affect at all.
It is still not clearly evident if Kelsey Peterson had a plan in mind, but it doesn’t appear that she did. It seems that the pair entered Mexico without a definitive plan and that their sole purpose was to hide.
Kelsey Peterson has been charged with child abuse, kidnapping, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. There are additional federal charges that she will face as well. These include transporting a minor across a foreign border for the purpose of sexual activity.
What is stunning in these publicized cases is the fact that the women teachers involved all have a reputation as a great teacher, and Kelsey Peterson is no exception. She also had a reputation for being very friendly and popular within the community as well.
It seems that these cases are happening too frequently these days. One question that no one seems to be asking, however, is why. Why are there so many teachers engaging in sexual activity with their students? Other questions arise as parents wonder what they can do to ensure that their child is not being abused in school.
One thing that is recommended is that parents should talk to their children everyday and ask them specific questions regarding their activities in school. Parents should also pay close attention to where their children are going after school. If you notice that your child continually talks about his or her teacher, is spending frequent time with his or her teacher after school hours, or suspect that they are talking on the phone together, you should be concerned. Another important point to consider is the fact that many rumors may circulate regarding improper behavior between the teacher and student. You should never automatically assume that these rumors are false. Finally, you should talk to your child if you have any questions or concerns.
[...] There are some new twists and turns in the latest teacher and teen sex case. I’m sure you remember Kelsey Peterson, the teacher who ran away with her student and was caught in Mexico last week. Her student is an illegal immigrant and wasn’t allowed to return back to the States. Well, Kelsey Peterson is twenty-five and it was believed that her student was thirteen years old. Now, Kelsey Peterson’s attorney is saying that they aren’t really sure exactly how old the boy is. Since he is an illegal immigrant, they believe that his birth certificate was faked and her attorney is requesting proof of his age. According to the attorney, the boy must be older than thirteen because he shaves and has a mustache. If he is older (they are suspecting that he may be sixteen or older) Kelsey may not face statutory rape charges. Kelsey’s attorney is also suggesting that the boy was making plenty of advances towards the teacher and not the other way around. [...]
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