A teacher arrested for allegedly having sex with her pupil has blamed the child for sending flirtatious text messages. Ashley Fisler, 36, was accused of grooming a boy from the age of 12 and having sex at least six times with the former student of Orchard Valley Middle School in Washington Township.
However, her lawyer argued that the victim was complicit in sending suggestive messages. Defence attorney, Rocco Cipparone, told the court: “He’s not texting like a kid. His texts are as graphic and direct as any I’ve seen from an adult. I’m not saying he’s not the age he is, but this is not a babe in the woods scenario that Ms Finley is creating from a risk and a danger perspective.”
County prosecutor Kylie Finley shared messages among the 7,500 exchanged over a six-year period with the jury. The court heard the teacher had asked him to describe the sexual encounters he had with other girls his age.
She had also offered to buy the boy a sex toy and shave his pubic hair in the messages, prosecutors alleged, and asked him to send her photos of himself. When the victim turned 16, Fisler allegedly had sex with him in her car and a school classroom.
The teenager had reportedly “tried multiple times to break off the relationship”, but Fisler wouldn’t allow it, according to the New Post. In one message, the boy allegedly wrote: “You stripped me of my innocence.”
On January 20 this year, the prosecution said he told Fisher: “I don’t want you in my life any more. As I’m getting older and I look back on the situation, I can’t help but see you as manipulative and selfish.”
The student went on to report the alleged abuse to the local police in January.
Defence attorney Cipparone argued that the state had selected certain messages out of context to make the events look worse.
He argued: “The state’s evidence leaves something to be desired; it’s contextual, selective, salacious texts that will be challenged. » He also claimed there was no evidence that Fisler sexually assaulted the boy as a preteen.
The former social studies teacher was charged with first-degree sexual assault of a minor. She was charged with one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and one count of second-degree official misconduct.
Judge William Ziegler has since signed a restraining order barring Fisler from having any contact with the victim. She only spoke to confirm her identity in court before a judge on Wednesday, and she is currently behind bars while the judge decides if she can be released on bail.
If convicted, the most serious charge holds a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while both second-degree charges carry a maximum of 10 years.
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