Erica DePalo, former New Jersey "Teacher of the Year," admits to having sex with student, report says

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Erica DePalo

/ CBS New York

(CBS/AP) NEWARK, N.J. - A former New Jersey teacher of the year admitted having sex with a 15-year-old student on Tuesday.

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Erica DePalo, 33, pleaded guilty to child endangerment and will have to register as a sex offender and forfeit her teacher's license. In return, county prosecutors will recommend she get lifetime parole supervision when she is sentenced in April.

Prosecutors said DePalo had a brief sexual relationship with a student in her honors English class at West Orange High School. She was initially charged with aggravated sexual assault and sexual assault, and could have faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Assistant Prosecutor Tony Gutierrez said DePalo and the teen had sexual relations between June and August 2012, CBS New York reports. During that time, the victim also visited DePalo at her apartment and the two had sexual relations on more than one occasion, according to a release from the prosecutor's office.

Prosecutors said the boy's family approved of the plea deal.

"This is a just resolution of the case because it frees the victim from having to testify in open court," Gutierrez said. "The victim's family is also relieved that their son can now move forward."

DePalo is scheduled to be sentenced on April 29, according to CBS New York.

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by Cowcharge February 21, 2013 4:22 PM EST: What "victim"?; Reply to this comment


by lorne46 February 21, 2013 12:54 AM EST: She must have had sex with several students and could not remember which students needed to get an A+.; Reply to this comment


by johnlockesghost February 21, 2013 12:10 AM EST: It's just not safe for 14-17 year old boys in schools these days! Especially, when being instructed by good-looking 20 year old teachers. Better have a meeting between congress and the president to determine the legislation that should be enacted to take care of this situation before it really gets out of hand.; Reply to this comment


by nojoy01 February 20, 2013 9:28 PM EST: Hey, MichaelSurf, ya wanna talk about traumatized? Think about this. A 15 year-old-boy is living an adolescents' dream, bangin' away on his hot looking teacher and then...he finds out "she" used to be a he. I don't think that "traumatized" even scratches the surface of what he's going through now. :) Assuming he thought "she" was the real deal.; Reply to this comment


by titansurfer7 February 20, 2013 9:09 PM EST: She is not as hot as the ***** women teachers before but if I was 15 year old teenager I wouldn't say a word. If she was my teacher I would surely get an A. I would also work some new sneakers out of the deal along with a continious flow of sexual release. Just saying; Reply to this comment


by Aussie_convict February 20, 2013 7:56 PM EST: I think I now know how she got to be "teacher of the year".; Reply to this comment


by hypnotoad72 February 20, 2013 5:07 PM EST: Hey MojitoMamma down there,

How so?

And home schooling - yeah, that'll supplant a Bachelor's degree that's needed for a $10/hr job...

Maybe you were homeschooled, especially as MichaelSurf there already gave you a new one by pointing out the relative odds... the whole system isn't junk just because 1 teacher out of 500k, 1000k, etc, decided to carry out their personal life differently than what you want to dictate there... ironic, that the rightwingers who drool and froth about "freedom" are about as anti-freedom as it gets.

Word up.; Reply to this comment


by hypnotoad72 February 20, 2013 5:05 PM EST: Wow.

It's hard to tell she used to be a he. There are usually unavoidable signs...; Reply to this comment


by st247 February 20, 2013 4:35 PM EST: 1. Good for the kid.

2. As we all know, reverse those genders and the guy would have gotten 10 - 15 years. Disgusting double standard.; Reply to this comment


by MichaelSurf February 20, 2013 4:24 PM EST: IDK yes she is a teacher and yes she should lose her job...but I think when it comes to sex people do fd up things. I think a lifetime parole is a but much...a 15 boy knows what he is doing. Take her job, fine her, whatever but really unless the kid was traumatized or was forced I think a lifetime parole is overkill.. just my take on it.; Reply to this comment