75-Year-Old Teacher Sentenced to 10 Years for ‘Repeatedly’ Sexually Assaulting 14-Year-Old Boy in School Basement

A former Wisconsin teacher was sentenced to 10 years in prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in the basement of a private Baptist school.

On Oct. 27, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Richard Radcliffe sentenced Anne Nelson-Koch, 75, to the decade-long sentence, Monroe County District Attorney Kevin Croninger announced. She initially faced 624 years behind bars, PEOPLE reported.

Upon her release, Nelson-Koch will be supervised by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for 15 years.

In April 2022, Nelson-Koch was accused of forcing the 14-year-old student to repeatedly engage in sex. Authorities say the disturbing acts took place at Tomah Baptist Academy during school hours throughout the 2016-2017 academic year, the Tomah Police Department reported.

In August, she was found guilty of 25 counts of sexual assault of a child, child enticement, exposing genitals, exposing intimate parts, and intimidation of the victim. 

Authorities say the abuse stopped once she left the school.

When the Judge handed down Nelson-Koch’s sentence, the judge said Nelson-Koch’s impact on the victim and his family was an “aggravating factor,” but also said the mitigating factor was her as “nice,” “selfless,” “giving” and “hardworking,” character.

The judge also said Nelson-Koch’s educational and employment history is “not someone who normally would be [seen] in the criminal justice system facing 600 years of prison.”

Assistant District Attorney Sarah Skiles and the prosecutor in the case vehemently disagreed.