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Redlands Teacher Who Had Student's Baby Sentenced To 1 Year In Jail, 5 Years' Probation

SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — A former Redlands teacher charged with having sexual relations with multiple students and having a baby with one of them was sentenced Tuesday to one year in county jail and five years' probation.

Laura Whitehurst, 28, took a plea bargain on July 31 and pleaded guilty to six of 41 felony counts of unlawful sex acts with three minors.

Four of the counts involved victim number one, who fathered Whitehurst's child, police said.

At the sentencing, the father of Whitehurst's child spoke out against the plea deal, saying, "Whitehurst's criminal actions against me have scarred me emotionally and will affect every relationship I have for the rest of my life."

The other 35 counts against Whitehurst were dismissed.

"He has the right to voice his opinion and I respect his opinion as a victim in this case," San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney Melissa Rodriguez said.

Student Who Impregnated Teacher Speaks Out Against Her Plea Deal

The former Citrus Valley High School teacher, who gave birth to a baby girl June 18, was arrested July 1 after the mother of the teenage boy who allegedly fathered the child reported the relationship. She was released after posting bail.

Two more victims, who are now adults, later came forward and claimed they also had relations with Whitehurst. She was re-arrested July 8 and charged with more sex counts.

Whitehurst had her teaching credentials revoked, will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life and has been ordered to stay away from the father of her child, officials said.

The baby is being cared for by Whitehurst's parents.

If she had been convicted on all 41 counts, she faced up to 29 years in prison.

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