Missouri teacher accused of having sex with student
Charges filed against teacher accused of having sexual relationship with student:
Teresa Engelbach is a substitute teacher who is accused of having sex with a 14-year-old male student from Senn-Thomas Middle School in Herculaneum, Mo. She’s been charged with three counts of statutory rape and one count of statutory sodomy.
The teacher also allegedly bought the student expensive gifts including a phone, clothes, shoes, a laptop and a $750 paintball gun.
If the accusations are true I doubt she’ll see the inside of a cell since she’s young and pretty. The double standard will strike again.
Thanks to Tim for the links.
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POSTED IN: Predators
18 opinions for Missouri teacher accused of having sex with student
David
Mar 18, 2007 at 10:38 am
“He told a teacher about the relationship with Engelbach and the teacher told administrators. ”
I think they meant he bragged to a teacher. God knows I would have when I was 14 if I had done it with a 26 year old.
Unfortunately, you’re right. There is a double standard. I also think there’s a difference between being forced to submit to sex, and choosing to have sex. Our laws make no distinction for people under 16. I think that’s wreckless. When I was 14 I was JUST as clear headed about choosing who I had sex with. Hell, there are partners I’ve been with at 23 that I have more regrets about than the ones I had when I was under 16!
Maybe I’m crazy, but when it comes to the law and putting people in jail, I think there should be 3 things considered for prosecution in cases like this:
1. Difference in age (agreed, this one is NOT on her side)
2. Position of Authority (again, against our substitute teacher)
3. Consent. I believe that consent is a HUGE mitigating factor in cases like this. Particularly, when the victim STANDS BY the consent even after the act.
These three things in concert could lead to a much more fair way to arbitrate these types of cases.
Shelli
Mar 18, 2007 at 1:36 pm
David,
You are crazy… as a teacher of middle school students I cannot think of one instance in which a 12 to 14 year old can honestly give consent. Students in this age group do not have the ability to think of far ranging consequences, often they are concerned with the here and now. I guess given your considerable sexual experience before the age of sixteen this seems like a fair tradeoff, but the law is designed to protect children–they are still children–from adults who would prey on their lack of maturity.
If you are over 18 and want to brag to your buddies about a person who will give you a paintball gun and a cell phone in exchange for a booty call, be anyone’s guest. But it’s exploitation in this arena. A child may STAND BY their consent for a host of reasons, shame, guilt, confusion, conceit. Damage has been done even if the child doesn’t recognize it.
We spend money and time teaching kids in middle school to take responsibility for their sexual actions when they become older and are ready. This cheapens and degrades all of it, and citizens like you who think that boy and others have bragging rights…are sad commentary and where education and students are valued in this country. They are not little adults, those teachers are predators who feel threatened and disappointed by the legal aged men out there so they turn to those they can control. I wonder why….
David
Mar 18, 2007 at 7:13 pm
First and foremost, I don’t think that teens who have sex with adults should have “bragging rights”; but the facts remain that they do brag. Does that mean teachers and students should be shacking up? Certainly not. I do however think that our laws should distinguish between a man or woman who forcefully and brutally rapes a child, and one who engages in a consentual act. Currently it does not. While I don’t believe consent should allow the behavior, I do think it should be treated as a mitigating factor in sentencing.
I’m positive that I’m not the ONLY person to ever have a sexual relationship while “underage” with someone considerably older than I was. Also, I don’t think that such a relationship has damaged me in any way whatsoever. In fact, in my particular case it was a very positive thing for me. I learned a lot about myself, sex, love, and life. It was a really good learning experience. Should this fact allow adults a blank check for sex with young teens!? NO! But those who DO enter into a consentual relationship with young adults should not be judged as harshly as a brutal, violent rapist as they currently are.
There should be consequences for this teacher. As I layed out in my proposed criteria, she has broken two of the three criteria. This should be punished. However, I do think that the sentencing should be lightened if there was, in fact, consent.
I used to teach middle school students. You wouldn’t catch me within 5 feet of any of them. In a day and age where every teacher seems to be suspected of sexual misconduct with their students, one must be above reproach both in the classroom and the community. Sexual conduct between students and teachers is and should be completely illegal.
Andrew Davis
Mar 19, 2007 at 4:31 pm
I agree with David. Can we honestly allow these realtionships to go on because the kids “consent”? Of course not. But there are circumstances that should be reviewed during judgemnet. For example, when I was 16, I had a consentual sexual relationship with my male math teacher. He would always joke around after class by whispering to me that he wanted to find the cosine of my a$$hole. This may be shocking to many people, but I found it quite humorous and my attraction to his humor led to a 15 minute relationship that left me with a terrible limp. With all limping aside, it WAS consentual. Although I was left with a broken heart…among other things, I learned a valuable lesson: Cosines are much more fun on paper.
Soseki
Mar 19, 2007 at 6:19 pm
This is ridiculous. There is no 14 year old boy on Earth that would think that banging a willing young and attractive substitute teacher is a rape in any kind of way…I hardly imagine the poor boy saying “no leave me alone Miss Hot teacher”
A 14 year old girl could be abuse by an older man who only wants to have sex with her….a 14 year old boy thinks of having sex 24/7 so if a hot young teacher is willing it’s only a dream coming true.
His only regret would be that she suddenly stop to have sex with him…but seriously being traumatised and feel raped ?
Jayme
Mar 19, 2007 at 10:24 pm
first off I went to school with her when i was a freshman, an we even rode the same bus.. First off Teresa Engelbach was a very pretty women.. But she is fuckin sick, okay I work in a Day care as a Teacher an my Children in my class room go to the same school as the boy. an i was told today that they alwaystalked bout goin to the movies an all such things together in front of other kids.. an She knew what she was doing.. You dont just sleep with a 14 year old because he says your pretty.. an she knew what she was doing because she was buying him shit.. Okay first off when I was 14 i was bragging who i was fuckin to an it got around.. But She should had thought bout it before she opended her legs, cause he also knew what he was doin when he was sleepin with her.. She should had thought bout everything in the long run. She got laid now shes gonna be behind bars, her brother which is in the same grade will be the laughin stock at school because his sister supposley rapped a boy.. But which is not true or he would had say something when it first happend.. an where was the kids parents when he was comming home with all these nice gifts? Come on Now… My daughter bring home gifts an she said it was a teacher i would had went straight to the school board… Well thats what i had to say
Melissa
Mar 20, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Jayme, you said you are a teacher?
Jayme
Mar 20, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Yea a day care teacher… Im not a regular teacher.. do you know what im talkin bout… But Im going back to school this fall to get are day care credited an then Ill eventually go to be a teacher at a regular school one day.. why do you ask?
Andrew Davis
Mar 21, 2007 at 12:47 pm
I’ll tell you why she asked, Jayme: Your grammar is absolutely awful. How in the hell do you expect to become a teacher with your terrible writing skills?
blah
Mar 21, 2007 at 11:10 pm
She is 21 not 26 but yes it is still disturbing. I do not see how a 21 year old could be attracted to a 14 year old little boy who is friends with her brother. Something is obviously wrong with this girl if she can be attracted to someone this young. I feel sorry for her family and the disgrace she has brought upon them.
And I also agree with the question of where were the parents when this was going on. They had to know something was up if he was coming home with 1000’s of dollars worth of stuff. I hate to say it but maybe if they had kept better watch over their son this wouldn’t have happened.
joe b
Mar 23, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Jayme’s comments don’t necessarily indicate all people from Missouri. The general area where this happened isn’t occupied by the most intelligent of folks. It’s just outside St Louis but literally a thousand miles away in terms of education.
Jayme, get back to school quickly and study your grammar very hard. 2 years from now you’ll thank me tremendously.
Jayme
Mar 24, 2007 at 10:21 pm
I know My grammer is really bad.. But hey I admit it.. I know alot of teachers were I graduated from who cant spell still.. So maybe Im not the most inteligent in grammer or all that wrighting stuff.. But I know Im a good person unlike the female were talkin about.. Im not the one this post is bout.. So how bout you get back on that subject.. I know Im not that educated in grammer.. But at least im a good person.. an I was taught that was good enough… and I agree with Blah 100% that if the parents were around it would had never happend.. Because like I said if my daughter brought home things from a teacher, I would go straight to the school board.. instead of waiting around for someone to confess..
But thank you for seeing that Im not very educated but I know I am in a big way besides writing and grammer.. That im not good at, when your suppose to be wrighting about Teresa Engelbach..
Andrew Davis
Mar 28, 2007 at 10:30 am
Sory Jamey (future teacher),
i Diddnt maen tu offind u. i em shure u r edukated in “big ways” uther then “wrighting” and “grammer”. Liike maken moonshine and puling a plow. if u keepe wurkin on ur edukation, won day cud millk cowz to. Guud luk in ur persute to becum a teecher.
blah
Mar 29, 2007 at 9:28 pm
OK Andrew how about we act our age and not make fun of people. That is not what this blog is about. No offense, just keep it on topic.
comment
Jan 2, 2008 at 10:48 pm
yeah jayme i also know that crazy bitch i totally think what she did was even more messed up, but get this after she got out of jail she ran off got married and bought a house and i guess is trying to act like nothing ever happend she left her boyfriend of like 3 years to go screw a 14 yr old and then goes back and gets married to her x-boyfriend ant that messed up i over herd her talking on the phone and she said “would you bail me out of jail” in front of like 15 people can you believe that
Wade
Feb 19, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Jayme,
I hope that what ever happens in your future is bright and happy including your students that will end up dumber than you. I am a high school student and it is pretty sad when I can look at your blogs and think “wow what an idiot”. I think that you should not post another blog on this interesting topic because you have done ruined my intrest.
WADE
P.S Hell if i was 14 and a 26 year old teacher wanted to play with me I would go along with it. He is a teenage boy and right now only looking for sex, and from the looks of it so isn’t the teacher.
Laurie
Feb 19, 2008 at 6:50 pm
A young man having sex with a much older woman can become just as messed up as a young girl who is targeted by an older man. It depends on the circumstances.
Having your body respond in a sexual manner to an older authority figure sets you up. I wonder how the men are today, that were abused by female or male teachers back in their high school or middle school years?
Happy, healthy? Relationship issues?
Teenagers should know that teachers can prey on them, male or female. But that is not a subject you can just spring on them one morning. It has to be taught from the time they are little.
Maybe some teenagers do know what the consequences are, and think its exciting that someone would take that risk, so they allow what is being done to them, even though they know they shouldn’t.
I know of a male, 21, who was recently arrested for having consensual sex with a 14 year old, and he is now serving 7 years in prison. I wonder if she will get the same….
jake
May 1, 2008 at 12:30 am
My wife and I had a child at 15 me and 14 her. We were young and dumb. We are doing fine and married, we are 27 and 28 now. I think the real problem is the laws. We need to define ages of sexual consent appropriately. In most societies we recognize an individuals adulthood around 13 to 16. I think the teacher should lose the ability to teach and possibly get fined or probation, not jail time. It isn’t just. It’s not a double standard it is just a recognition of the natural differences between man and woman wether you want to accept it or not we are different.
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