A former Missouri teacher evaded sex crime charges after marrying the student she admitted to having sex with.
In February 2019, 26-year-old former educator Baylee A. Turner faced a felony charge of sexual contact with a student by a school district employee, volunteer, or elected or appointed school official, which was punishable by up to four years in prison.
The first-year teacher admitted to having sex with a 17-year-old male student at Sarcoxie High School and resigned shortly after her arrest.
Prosecutors announced that charges against Turner were dismissed in light of her marriage to her former student.
“The marriage severely impacted the state’s ability to prosecute the ex-educator due to the broad spousal privilege law in effect there,” adding that “because marital or spousal privilege now applies, her former student can no longer be compelled to testify against her, making the state’s case exceedingly difficult to prove in court,” assistant prosecutor Nate Dally said.
