Brittni Colleps Case: Jury to get student-sex case against former Texas high school teacher

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Brittni Colleps, former high school teacher, faces a Texas court on Aug. 16, 2012 on allegations that she had an improper relationship with five students

/ KENS

(CBS/AP) FORT WORTH, Texas - A jury is expected to begin deliberating Friday in the case of Brittni Nicole Colleps, a suburban North Texas high school teacher accused of having sex with five 18-year-old students at her home.

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Closing arguments are set for Friday in Colleps' trial. She's charged with five counts of having an inappropriate relationship between a student and teacher. The second-degree felony is punishable by two to 20 years in prison per count.

Authorities say the 28-year-old former Kennedale High School English teacher had sex with the students at her Arlington home over a period of two months. Prosecutors rested their case Thursday; the defense rested without calling any witnesses or presenting any evidence.

Kennedale is a town of about 7,300 residents near Arlington, eight miles southeast of Fort Worth. The high school has about 3,200 students.

Although all of the students were over 18-years-old, it is against Texas law for a teacher to have an improper relationship with a student, regardless of age. However, if she is charged and convicted, Colleps would not have to register as a sex offender, CBS DFW reported.

Despite the accusations against his wife, Christopher Colleps is choosing to stand by her side.

"I want you to know I love my wife. I have loved my wife since the moment I laid eyes on her over 11 years ago," said Colleps. "I have always supported my wife, and I will continue to support my wife through this whole, entire ordeal."

Complete coverage of Brittni Colleps on Crimesider

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by SilkyDog August 18, 2012 12:49 AM EDT: "On September 1, 2003, a law took effect in Texas making it a felony offense for an educator to engage in a sexual relationship with a student who attends the school where they teach, regardless of the student's age or gender. In Texas, the legal age of consent for sexual activity is 17, but under the law, teacher-student relationships in which the students were 17 and 18 years old have been criminalized."

Based on that criteria, I would say that probably half the professors at UT Austin would be eligible for prosecution.; Reply to this comment

by baj8881 August 17, 2012 1:52 PM EDT

I'm not justifying her actions, but if these boys were of legal age at worst she should be fired. Hell, revoke her teaching license...but felony charges? Really?

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by Jack_in_A_Box August 18, 2012 6:36 AM EDT: I agree, Inappropriate no doubt. although legal age. Why in a state that nost say the government has too much control they then legislate morals and intrusions into personal life. The thing here is there are no victims so how is there a crime.

I have no doubt there will soon be a revolution within this country... lets hope it is not violent.