Koehn
Ex-teacher gets five months for sex with teen girl she mentored
Ex-teacher, coach was girl's mentor
By Frederick Melo
fmelo@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 02/05/2010 11:18:19 PM CST
A Kenosha, Wis., woman has been sentenced to five months in a county jail and 10 years' probation for maintaining a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student at a private West St. Paul high school.
Melissa Diana Koehn, 31, a former teacher and basketball coach, was ordered to pay $200 and register as a sex offender. Prosecutors had asked for a state prison sentence, but Dakota County District Judge Robert King stayed the execution of a three-year prison term. Her jail sentence begins Feb. 11.
Koehn taught history at St. Croix [WELS] Lutheran High School, where she befriended the girl and began an unofficial mentoring relationship with her during the girl's sophomore year.
When the girl began showing signs of depression, Koehn held frequent meetings with her and got to know her family, who at first warmed to the mentoring. Koehn joined them for dinners, holidays, social outings and overnight visits.
Authorities believe the relationship escalated by July 2008, shortly before the girl's senior year. During Koehn's jury trial in November, the girl's mother described frequent phone calls and finding an elaborate love letter.
In December, an Apple Valley police officer discovered Koehn kissing the girl in a parked car in a park. Koehn was arrested the next day.
On the witness stand, the teen denied any sexual contact with Koehn, then later said she couldn't remember.
Under Minnesota law, sexual contact with a 16- or 17-year-old is a felony if the
perpetrator is more than four years older and in a position of authority over the teen.
Koehn's attorney maintained that the relationship was not a crime because Koehn had taken a leave of absence from the school in the summer of 2008. Prosecutors noted, however, she had the girl in history class her freshman year and coached her in basketball her sophomore year.
On Nov. 20, a jury deliberated three hours before finding Koehn guilty of three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.
Frederick Melo can be reached at 651-228-2172.
The story was previously covered on Ichabod - where else? Read the details. Was a deal made to create the memory lapse? See the details in the linked Ichabod story.
Mary Lou College really needs a gaydar dish installed, or they should change the name to Mother Jones College.
