Former teacher sentenced to 90 days for sexual relationship with student

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A former Gwinnett County music teacher who pleaded guilty to a sexual relationship with a student was sentenced Friday to 90 days in jail and 10 years on probation.

Therese Gunn apologized several times before the judge, insisting that the ongoing relationship she had with a 17-year-old student was a mistake.

"I can't believe this. I messed up the trust of everybody," she said.

Gunn claimed the student was to blame. She said she was lonely and going through a divorce and the student lured her in.

"(He) coerced me and I would say that it was like a car salesman," she said.

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The student said he was devastated and what happened had made his life "hell."

Gunn was arrested in May 2015. Police said the former South Gwinnett High School music teacher conducted the relationship both at school and at a local park.

Prosecutors wanted two years in prison for Gunn and alluded to the fact that, in the last couple of years, several Gwinnett-area teachers have been busted for having relationships with students.

"I think especially in this country, at this time, that continues to happen and taking a strong stance at this time, when it's appropriate, might help to stop the bleeding on that," prosecutor Karen West said.

Judge Warren Davis decided on a sentence of 90 days in jail and 10 years on probation.

"Let's face it. You must have been in a real horrible place to make such a bad decision, but clearly you weren't coerced," he said.

The judge said he expects Gunn to use the three months in jail to think everything over.

Cox Media Group