Did you hear that Amy Beck is only getting two years in prison after being found guilty of having sex with a 14-year-old student? I’m no lawyer, but that seems like a light sentence considering her crime. What do you think?

In case you need a refresher on the story, here’s a recap of the situation from the L.A. Times blog:

A Burbank middle school teacher accused of having sex with a 14-year-old student was sentenced to two years in state prison on Friday.

She also must register as a state sex offender, a judge ruled.

Amy Beck, 33, surrendered at the Burbank Police Department headquarters in March and was booked on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts.

She was apparently overcome by guilt, Burbank police officials said.

Burbank police investigators allege that Beck, a teacher at David Starr Jordan Middle School, had a relationship with one of her male students from March to September 2009.

Beck was a well-known and popular teacher at David Starr, and both teachers and students expressed shock at her arrest.

According to Burbank Leader, Beck originally faced up to seven years in prison.

“Beck was originally charged with four counts of unlawful sex with a minor and one count of oral copulation with a minor, and faced up to seven years in prison. All but one of the charges were dropped as part of the plea deal, prosecutors said. A charge was added that required her to register as a sex offender.” (Burbank Leader)

While two years seems like a short time, I suppose the fact that she won’t be able to lead a normal life again is punishment enough.

“Her career as a model teacher or teacher of any type is gone. Her life living the American dream — the middle-class wife married to a police officer — has come to an end. Her life is irreparably changed,” Williamson said. “So I think in addition to the jail sentence, justice takes all kinds of forms. And she’s going to be living with the other forms for quite a while.” (Burbank Leader)

Well said. What are your thoughts?

Photo Courtesy of L.A. Times Blog

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