An Arkansas teacher who shocked national TV by adoring students has pleaded guilty to having sex with high school boys up to 30 times.
Married mother Heather Hare, 33, first made headlines in 2020 when she was surprised on “Good Morning America” by students who said goodbye to her because her home economics class was suspended due to distance learning during the pandemic.
He now potentially faces prison time after pleading guilty Monday to transporting minors across the state for illegal sexual activity, prosecutors said.
The beloved teacher was arrested last April when a 17-year-old student came forward to report his repeated abuse, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
The boy – known only as “JR” – told police he met Hare on the first day of his senior year at Bryant High School in the fall of 2021, Assistant US Attorney John Ray White told the court hearing.
“Hare began one-on-one counseling sessions with the minor victim, eventually providing her personal phone number and communicating with her via Instagram and Snapchat,” the prosecutor’s office said.
“At one point, Ms. Hare told JR that she had a dream of them having sex,” White said.
“The minor victim and Hare had sex approximately 20 to 30 times during the 2021-2022 school term, including several times at her residence in Conway, in her vehicle, and in her classroom and parking lot at Bryant High School.”
Heather Hare pleaded guilty to having sex with a high school boy up to 30 times. Heather Hare
It included sex during an April 2022 school trip to Washington, DC, when Hare took JR and three female students to a national LifeSmarts competition tied to his Family Consumer Science course.
“JR advised they planned to have sex on the way and not have to worry about getting caught,” White said. “Hare did come to her hotel room and the two engaged in sexual intercourse.”
The now-former teacher became upset in court when he was asked if everything detailed by prosecutors was “100% accurate.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied through sobs before confirming she was pleading “guilty.”
Hare and the student slept together several times at his home, in his car, and in his classroom and parking lot at Bryant High School.
He was forced to serve federal transportation on the minor charge in a plea deal that calls for 13 years in prison.
However, the judge refused to rule on whether he had accepted the deal, telling Hare he would only make a decision through a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
If he rejects the plea deal, Hare then has the option to withdraw his guilty plea and take the case to trial.
That would open up the possibility of a life sentence, prosecutors insisted.
“This former teacher took advantage of his position of trust and the vulnerability of a minor, using his role to attract and entice this minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity,” said US Attorney Jonathan Ross.
“Our office will continue to seek significant penalties against any education professional who sexually abuses their students.”
“At one point, Ms. Hare told JR that she dreamed they were having sex,” a US attorney said. Bryant Police/Instagram
No date has been set for sentencing.
During Hare’s appearance on “GMA” in 2020, she said she “immediately started bawling my eyes out” when she saw her students say goodbye.
Bella Watkins, a sophomore at the time, invited 11 of her friends to share a selfie as they said goodbye to the popular educator, ABC News reported at the time.
“It breaks my heart because a lot of kids are looking for a break in their day and they enjoy coming to my class,” Hare said on the show. “The last unit is sewing. We have so many fun projects [planned] and we couldn’t do it.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
