Jul 26, 2007 11:03 am US/Central
Former Midland Teacher Gets 26 Years In Prison
Man Convicted Of Sex With 14-Year-Old Student
MIDLAND (AP) ―
A former Midland Academy Charter School teacher was sentenced to 26 years in prison Wednesday after a jury convicted him of two counts of sexual assault of a child and two counts of an improper relationship with a student.
Attorney Hal Brockett said he was surprised by the jury's verdict against client David van Houten.
"We respect the jury's decision, but I have worked in the system for 30 years and it was a bit of a surprise for me. The jury just believed the victim and didn't believe Mr. Van Houten," Brockett said in Thursday's edition of The Midland Reporter-Telegram. "These cases are hard for everybody -- the state, the defense, the jurors and the families on both sides. They're an absolute human tragedy."
Van Houten, who had been an eighth-grade social studies and gifted and talented teacher, was convicted of having sex with a 14-year-old girl.
The girl testified that Van Houten persuaded her to allow him to have sexual intercourse with her on her 14th birthday last fall and again a month later in a portable classroom. Van Houten said he was innocent.
District Judge Robin Malone Darr imposed consecutive 13-year sentences on the sexual assault convictions and concurrent 13-year sentences on the convictions of being an educator who had an improper relationship with a student.
Van Houten's attorneys plan to appeal the conviction.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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