Jury Convicts Tutor Of Statutory Rape Of Boy, 15

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - A western Michigan jury on Wednesday convicted a Grand Rapids Catholic school tutor of criminal sexual conduct for having sex with a 15-year-old boy she was teaching.

The Kent County Circuit Court jury found Abigail Simon, 33, guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Judge Paul Sullivan scheduled her sentencing for Jan. 6. The charge carries a penalty of up to life in prison.

Simon has acknowledged having sex with the Catholic Central High School student she was tutoring in 2013 but said she was a victim of his physical and mental intimidation.

Defense lawyer Michael Manley said his client was devastated by the verdict but was at peace, The Grand Rapids Press reported.

"She told her story," Manley said. "She already won."

Assistant Prosecutor Helen Brinkman ridiculed Simon's claims of self-defense and said she her assertions were "dumping garbage" on the student and his family.

Prosecutors introduced the evidence of 1,000 text messages from Simon in which he declared her love for the boy to him and to her friends.

The teen testified that he was a virgin before his involvement with Simon. He said she introduced him to a world of rough sex.

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