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Former Ohio County teacher convicted in relationship with student [WV]
WV MetroNews ^ | August 13, 2019 | Jeff Jenkins

Posted on 08/13/2019 4:36:31 PM PDT by buckalfa

WHEELING, W.Va. — A former Ohio County teacher who had four children with a former student agreed to an Alford plea Tuesday and was sentenced to 1 to 5 years in prison.

Elizabeth Harbert, a former teacher at Bridge Street Middle School and Wheeling Park High School, entered the plea to third degree sexual assault. The Alford plea allows a case to result in a conviction without the defendant actually pleading guilty.

Harbert and Christopher Birch began a relationship in 2005 when she was approximately 30 and he was 15. A criminal complaint said they had sex at least 50 times while her husband was at work. Birch moved in with Harbert while he was in middle school.

Criminal charges were filed earlier this year.

Ohio County Assistant Prosecutor Shawn Turak told MetroNews the unique circumstances of the case made it risky to go to trial.

“Through no fault of the victim but because of his gender, because of the passage of time, I had a concern the jury pool that could potentially set in judgment of the case may not consider him to be a victim,” Turak said.

Birch filed a civil lawsuit against Harbert in April claiming he was sexually and mentally abused by Harbert. Ohio County Circuit Court Judge Jason Cuomo dismissed all of the defendants in the case with the exception of the Ohio County Board of Education. He ruled the specific claims by Birch against Harbert came after the statute of limitations. The judge also removed current Ohio County Board of Education member Christine Carder as a defendant in the lawsuit. She was principal at Wheeling Park during part of the time Harbert and Birch were there.

The civil case is going forward against the school board.

“Justice comes in many forms, and Chris Birch is pleased and grateful that his civil case will proceed against the Ohio County Board of Education,” Teresa Toriseva, Birch’s attorney said after that June ruling.

Turak said Tuesday she couldn’t speak to anything on the part of who knew what when about the longstanding relationship.

“I don’t know why it wasn’t or was reported (at the time),” Turak said, adding the prosecution moved forward when the case after receiving a report earlier this year from the Ohio County school superintendent.

MORE read original criminal complaint here

Third degree sexual assault is what’s considered statutory rape, Turak said.

“She’s above the age of 16 (when the sex first occurred). He’s below the age of 16 and in fact, she’s at least four years older than him,” Turak said.

The plea and sentence also requires Harbert to register the rest of her life as a convicted sex offender. Turak said that’s a significant part of the plea deal.

“There is a heavy hammer that is over all registered sex offenders for the rest of their lives if they do in fact violate. If they fail to register change of address, change of employment, change of phone number. That was one of the main reasons why I thought this was a very, very good outcome,” Turak said.

Harbert is scheduled to self-report to jail on Sept. 3.


TOPICS: Education; Local News; Society
KEYWORDS: depravity; teachersex; wv
The depravity continues.
1 posted on 08/13/2019 4:36:31 PM PDT by buckalfa
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To: buckalfa

Is it that hard to find a man in Stuebenville?


2 posted on 08/13/2019 4:46:19 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: buckalfa

Good. One less trashy person who has a teaching license.


3 posted on 08/13/2019 4:47:46 PM PDT by Fury
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To: mylife

She had four children with this teenage boy? Holy Toledo.


4 posted on 08/13/2019 4:48:18 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Dilbert San Diego

She figured it was her box, she could haul coal in it if she wants to.


5 posted on 08/13/2019 4:54:31 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

“Is it that hard to find a man in Stuebenville?”

Since she is young, and single female, and a teacher she is nearly 100% likely to be a dim.

Dims do not simple disagree with Trump voters these days, the despise them to the core of their beings and believe they are not only bad, but evil.

Most real men are generally nuetral, or to the right. Most dhimmicrat men are whiny, sniveling soy boys so their are literally no “real men” from their point of view.

The reason they favor children is because dhimmicrats have to control and manipulate people, and children are easier to manipulate. Though children are not yet men, they do have about the same emotional maturity of dhimmicrat “men”. Being emotionally immature is a strongly reviled trait in adult men (even for dhimmicrats) but is expected from a child. The only thing I don’t get is why dhimms go hysterical when a 40 year old priest scandal appears once every few years, but ignore or celebrate the weekly teacher slutfest


6 posted on 08/13/2019 5:01:06 PM PDT by dsrtsage (For Leftists, World History starts every day at breakfast)
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To: buckalfa

Elizabeth Harbert, according to the article.

7 posted on 08/13/2019 5:12:21 PM PDT by Enterprise
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To: Enterprise
The boy was living in her home and she was having sex with him "when her husband was at work" and she had four children by the boy --- and her husband never suspected?

Now she gets 1 to 5 years in prison, and the kids she had with the boy are all still minors. Who takes care of the kids: her husband?

Or do her husband and the boy (now a young adult) share custody?

I mean.... this makes my head hurt.

8 posted on 08/13/2019 5:16:22 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Excellent points made, as always, in these cases, Mrs. D. :)


9 posted on 08/13/2019 5:22:51 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (We come from the earth, we return to the earth, and in between we garden.~Alfred Austin)
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To: mylife

Saw the pic. She is worth 12 pack beer goggles.


10 posted on 08/13/2019 5:27:45 PM PDT by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; Mrs. Don-o

In most states births occurring in a marriage Are assumed lawful.

It is VERY difficult to overturn responsibility for financial support for children even when genetic proof is provided.


11 posted on 08/13/2019 5:58:11 PM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit)
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To: Pontiac

Wood u say not guilty?


12 posted on 08/13/2019 7:25:52 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

They’re going to separate her from her children!


13 posted on 08/13/2019 7:53:15 PM PDT by Do_Tar (Do I really need a /sarc?)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

But, but, but,..... You can’t seperate a family


14 posted on 08/13/2019 8:43:03 PM PDT by Keyhopper (Indians had bad immigration laws)
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To: dsrtsage
“Is it that hard to find a man in Stuebenville?”

If you're not into gang-bangers or drug addicts, yes.


15 posted on 08/14/2019 8:14:24 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer.)
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To: Dilbert San Diego
She had four children with this teenage boy? Holy Toledo.

Holy Wheeling actually.


16 posted on 08/14/2019 8:15:04 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer.)
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To: buckalfa

““Through no fault of the victim but because of his gender, because of the passage of time, I had a concern the jury pool that could potentially set in judgment of the case may not consider him to be a victim,” Turak said.”

That’s because having an older woman agree to bang you is every pubescent boy’s fantasy. Only back in my day you would never find any adult women crazy enough to actually take you up on it. Today some story involving a teacher turns up in the news every 3 to 4 days.

Depravity is right.


17 posted on 08/14/2019 8:18:54 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer.)
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