Special Ed Teacher, 32, Pleads Guilty To Felony Sex Charges Involving 5 Students

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — A former Corona special education teacher who engaged in sex acts with five of her male students pleaded guilty Friday to felony charges.

Summer Michelle Hansen, 32, was arrested in 2013 after a Corona police investigation.

The police concluded Hansen engaged in inappropriate contact with the victims, none of whom were identified, on numerous occasions.

During a status hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice, Hansen admitted to seven counts of oral copulation of a minor, six counts of statutory rape and three counts of distributing pornographic material to a child.

Hansen's new attorney, David Wohl, told City News Service that his client "made a decision that she felt was in the best interest of both her and her family."

"She was facing 16 charges resulting from five different alleged victims that could have resulted in 13 years in state prison had she been convicted at trial," Wohl said. "After a conference with Judge (Becky) Dugan, Summer agreed to accept the judge's offer of three years in prison, in exchange for a plea to all charges."

Deputy D.A. Kimberly Williams objected to the court-sanctioned deal, apparently because of the proposed sentence, about three years behind bars. Williams was not immediately available for comment.

Hansen remains free on a $150,000.

CBS2's Tom Wait said Hansen is scheduled for sentencing April 3.

Dugan ordered a probation department report delving into the circumstances of
the case and to identify any variables that might change the court's indicated
sentence.

The five boys with whom she had relations were all students at Centennial High School, where Hansen taught special education until her suspension and eventual termination in 2013.

"The crimes are alleged to have taken place from May 2012 through May 2013, and took place in her classroom, in a utility room at the school, in her vehicle while parked near one victim's home, and at another victim's home," said D.A.'s office spokesman John Hall.

In mid-June 2013, school district officials notified the Corona Police Department about a possible inappropriate relationship between Hansen and a former student, leading to an investigation that resulted in the charges and arrest.

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