| July 16, 2005 Teacher's record not being expunged She was accused of assaulting student KEITH MATHENY Record-Eagle staff writer CHARLEVOIX - A Charlevoix County Circuit Court judge refused to set aside the conviction of a former Boyne City school teacher for sexually assaulting a student. "I don't have the power to expunge the impact this crime had on the victim," said Judge Richard Pajtas as he denied the motion by Christi Jean Brilinski, 50, of Boyne City. Brilinski pleaded no contest in 1999 to attempted fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a misdemeanor. She was sentenced to two years' probation, 300 hours of community service, fines and was forced to register as a sex offender. Brilinski sought to have her criminal record expunged, saying she has no prior record and has had a clean record since successfully completing the terms of her sentence. "I have come to terms with my regrettable past and only ask for an opportunity for a future," she said. "I am not a threat or danger to the community." Brilinski's attorney, Randall Karfonta, noted Brilinski would be required to remain on the state's sex-offender registry for 25 years regardless of whether her criminal record was expunged. "She'll never teach again," he said. Brilinski's victim, now a teacher herself, urged Pajtas to deny Brilinski's motion. "Please do not send her the message that what she did to me is OK," she said. The woman claims Brilinski, her former English teacher and track coach, inappropriately touched her throughout her high school years. The woman says the touching started in her sophomore year, when she was 15. The assaults occurred both in and out of school, according to the woman. Clearing Brilinski's record "minimizes the horrific acts" and "grotesque misuse of trust" Brilinski exhibited in sexually assaulting one of her students, the woman said. http://www.record-eagle.com/2005/jul/16teach.htm |