A former Illinois junior high school teacher has pleaded guilty to aggravated battery in a case involving two former students and was sentenced to 24 months of probation, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Cara, 36, entered the plea at a hearing on Thursday. After sentencing, Judge Kerry Kennedy warned her not to return to his courtroom for a probation violation and called her a predator, the paper reported.
Cara was first charged in 2015 while working at a school in Joliet, where she lives. As part of her plea agreement, the charge was reduced to aggravated battery. Reports say the two women agreed to the deal so they could move forward and because they did not expect her to serve prison time.
The plea requires her to complete a sex offender probation program, but she will not have to register as a sex offender.
According to the reporting, Cara met the two sisters when she coached their basketball team at Jerling Junior High School in Orland Park. Prosecutors said the contact began in 2008, when the girls were 14, and continued until 2014, when they reported it.
In a victim impact statement, one of the sisters said a teacher and coach is supposed to protect children, not abuse them.
Made to order and shipped to your door.
