Saturday, July 30, 2005 Ex-teacher gets 3 years News Herald/POLLY ANN BAUMAN By DAN DEARTH PORT CLINTON -- A former Port Clinton High School teacher was sentenced Friday to three years in prison for having sex twice last year with a 17-year-old female student. Brett Dunbar, 26, also was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and court costs during his hearing in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court. In April, he pleaded no contest and was found guilty of one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony. As a result of the conviction, he must also register as a sexual offender upon his release every year for the next 10 years. Dunbar sporadically cried as Judge Paul C. Moon passed sentence. "The court need not turn a blind eye to what happened here," Moon said. "You traded grades for sex." Moon said he considered before making his decision several favorable letters that were written by Dunbar's family, friends and former professors. Dunbar faced a maximum five years in prison and $10,000 fine. Moon was not obligated, however, to impose a prison sentence. "He's led a law-abiding life for a period of time and tends to show genuine remorse," Moon said. "He just should have know better. He used his profession to facilitate the offense." Dunbar addressed the court before Moon read the sentence. "I'd like to take full responsibility for what I've done," Dunbar said. "I understand I was the adult in this situation ... I made the wrong decision." Dunbar acknowledged he caused the victim and her family a lot of pain and suffering through his actions. He added that by having a relationship with the girl, she probably was unable to lead a normal life in high school. He apologized to the victim's family, his family, and the community for committing the crime. Mark Jacobs, Dunbar's attorney, would not comment on whether he plans to file an appeal on Dunbar's behalf. Ottawa County Assistant Prosecutor Lorain Croy said Moon's decision was appropriate. The victim, now 18, told Port Clinton High School's resource officer she had sex with Dunbar at his apartment in March and December 2004, according to court records. She also reported Dunbar gave her favorable grades despite providing the wrong answers on assignments. Three other girls told the resource officer that Dunbar made sexual advances toward them in person and via e-mails. Court records indicate Dunbar kissed one of the girls while she was alone with him in his Jefferson Street apartment. In other cases, some students admitted Dunbar threw parties in his home, where he allowed students to use alcohol and drugs. Port Clinton City Schools administrators suspended Dunbar with pay Feb. 27 and then suspended his pay and benefits March 15, one day after a they began the process to fire him. Pat Adkins, Port Clinton City Schools superintendent, said after the sentencing that neither the victim nor her family has filed a lawsuit against the school district. He apologized to all of the families involved in the incident for unwittingly allowing Dunbar to violate the students' trust. "We're relieved this is all behind us," Adkins said. "We'll do everything in our power to make sure this doesn't happen again." http://www.centralohio.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/BC/20050730/NEWS01/50730030 4/1002&template=BC Back To Guvment Skool Page 8 COPYRIGHT "DUHMAG.COM" 2005