No jail time for teacher who slept with student

A Rehovot high school teacher accused of an illicit sexual affair with a student agreed on a plea bargain with the Central District Prosecutor's Office, Sunday, according to which she would do six months of community service, provide monetary restitution and receive only conditional jail time.

According to the original indictment, filed with the Rehovot Magistrate's Court in October, the teacher and her 17-year-old student became intimately involved after she took an interest in his studies.

The two allegedly began meeting in a secluded on the outskirts of the city, in a nearby guesthouse, at the beach, in the teacher's offices and even at another student's house. The other student, made privy to the relationship, apparently videoed the two using her cell-phone camera.

Once rumors about the affair began circulating, alleged the State, both students were invited to the teacher's house, where her husband who was also present threatened them and instructed them to deny the rumors. The State filed charges against the woman's husband, for intimidation and obstruction of justice.

In recent weeks, the prosecution has held several discussions with the teacher's lawyer, David Libai, as the prosecution wished not to force the two students to testify.

According to the terms of the plea bargain, the teacher will admit to the charges of a modified indictment, pleading guilty to having an illicit affair with a minor over 14 and abusing her position as an educator.

A six month jail sentence will be substituted with six months of community sentence and she will also receive conditional jail time. The court will determine the amount of money she will need to make over to the student in reparations.

The teacher's husband also agreed upon a plea bargain. For admitted to threatening the two students, the prosecutor's office appears poised to also send him to community service and fine him.