Thread: Neb. teacher who fled with student pleads guilty

k1084 BC-NE-Teacher-StudentFl 2ndLd-Writethru 07-02 0586

Neb. teacher who fled with student pleads guilty

Eds: ADDS additional details of Wednesday hearing. ADDS background on crime. ADDS reaction from boy's lawyer. ADDS information about boy's immigration status.

By ANNA JO BRATTON

Associated Press Writer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- A former teacher pleaded guilty Wednesday to fleeing to Mexico with a 13-year-old student so she could have sex with him as part of a deal to ensure she'll spend less than a decade in federal prison.

Kelsey Peterson, 26, cried in court and shook her head when the prosecutor said she started having sex with the boy when he was 12 years old and a student at the middle school in Lexington where she taught.

But she pleaded guilty to a charge of transporting a minor across state lines to have sex, and avoided a similar charge that would have carried a mandatory 10-year sentence.

Peterson and the boy left Lexington in October and were found a week later in Mexicali, Mexico. Peterson admitted the two of them had sex.

Her family burst out of the court room shouting at reporters, telling them to "ask (the victim) how old he is," and saying Peterson is being unjustly accused.

Peterson's attorney, James Martin Davis, has publicly questioned the boy's birth certificate. Davis said the boy was likely at least 16, and that he was the aggressor.

Amy Peck, attorney for the boy and his family, said that suggestion was disgusting.

"He was a 12-year-old boy and the defendant knew it," Peck said Wednesday. "The result of this lower plea could have been obtained without playing to every racial stereotype that there is."

The plea agreement calls for a sentence of at least 70 months in prison, up to a maximum of 87 months. The judge could decide on a different sentence at a hearing in September, but that would give Peterson the right to change her plea, said federal prosecutor Jan Sharp.

The guilty plea doesn't mean Peterson is off the hook on state charges, which include kidnapping and first-degree sexual assault.

Davis said he hoped those charges will be dropped.

But Dawson County Attorney Elizabeth Waterman said Wednesday there are no plans to drop the state charges.

"Right now she's charged with what she's charged with," Waterman said. "The nature of any type of deal, I don't want to speculate on that."

Peterson likely won't be brought back to Dawson County to face state charges until after the federal sentencing, Waterman said.

The Associated Press previously named the boy as police were searching for him but stopped using his name after authorities charged Peterson with a sex crime. The boy is now 14.

He was an illegal immigrant in the United States when he left with Peterson. He's now back in Nebraska temporarily after being granted humanitarian parole by the Department of Homeland Security.

Peck said she plans to ask the U.S. attorney's office for a visa that could put the boy and his parents on the path to citizenship.

The "U" visa is designed for victims of certain crimes and their families and needs the backing of someone involved with prosecuting, investigating or judging the case.

"We have not been promised anything at this point," Peck said.

Said U.S. Attorney Joe Stecher: "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
http://www.hdnews.net/wirestories/k1084 ... 07-02-0586

Weren't there stories flying around when this happened that the boy had a 3 year old son? That he had TWO mexican birth certificate showing conflicting information?

If either of these two stories is true, he and his family should not receive U visas, it smells like a trap.

Several months ago in PA, a teacher's assistant turned herself in when an aggressive 16 year old student began pursuing her. He would hold her hand and rub her thigh in the classroom, she knew it was inappropriate and got scared that she wouldn't be able to resist him, so she told her superiors. Guess what? He was looking for a U visa!

Published Thursday July 3, 2008

Boy rues teacher's fate

BY CINDY GONZALEZ AND MAGGIE O'BRIEN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS



Fernando Rodriguez said he "feels bad" that his sixth grade teacher is going to prison and wishes that their sexual relationship - followed by a high-profile flight last year to his native Mexico - had never occurred.


"If I could go back in time I would not, like, be with her," the youth said in his first in-depth interview since his teacher's arrest. "So she wouldn't get in trouble and none of this would happen, all of this drama thing."

Twelve when the sexual relationship with Kelsey Peterson began and now 14, Fernando was thrust into the national spotlight after school officials in Lexington, Neb., exposed the inappropriate relationship between the teacher and student. Peterson hastily packed up her 2006 Pontiac, withdrew $2,500 cash from her accounts and headed south with Fernando.

A week later, on Nov. 2, Peterson was pinpointed by a fugitive-chasing police officer using a GPS tracker.

Kelsey Peterson

On Wednesday, Peterson, now 26, pleaded guilty in federal court to traveling with a person younger than 18 to have sex.


Fernando Rodriguez, 14, who was taken to Mexico last year by sixth grade teacher Kelsey Peterson, talks Wednesday with his 2-year-old brother, Jose.

The agreement calls for a sentence of at least 70 months in prison but not more than seven years and three months. Earlier charges had her facing 10 years to life in prison.

Amy Peck, Fernando's attorney, called the arrangement fair and said the plea cleared up misinformation cited earlier by the defense counsel.

Peterson's attorney, James Martin Davis of Omaha, had suggested that Fernando was older and perhaps had fathered a 2-year-old boy.

Davis maintained this week that Fernando was "hustling" his client, and Peterson's family Wednesday questioned his age and other parts of the government's case. Davis said, though, that as an authority figure and a teacher, Peterson "crossed the boundaries, there is no question about that."

Kelsey PetersonIn the interview, Fernando described his attachment to her and the turmoil it caused him and his family, who are illegal immigrants.

Peterson entered Fernando's life as his math teacher when he was in the sixth grade.

"She was, like, one of the popular teachers," Fernando said. She'd pass notes with friendly messages - how are you, how's your day - to not only him but also to some of the girls.

Fernando said he and Peterson started out as friends. She was nice; he could talk to her about anything. "She'd listen. She'd give me advice."

Sixth grade ended, and Fernando increasingly hung out at Peterson's house. He said she told him that he was different from the other students - "more mature."

Peterson has an 8-year-old daughter, but she stayed mostly with other relatives, he said.

Once after swimming, Fernando said, Peterson asked him to come over.

Their sexual relationship began in August 2006.

"I thought it was weird," he said. "She was way older."

Court records say the intimate activity continued two or three times a week primarily at Peterson's home.

Fernando said Peterson became upset when he wanted to spend time with girls.

"I had this other girl that I really liked. I felt more comfortable with a girl my own age. Kelsey would get mad."

In January 2007, court records say, Fernando moved out of town. Peterson continued to write and call him and express her "love" for him, he said. Upon his return in June, their intimacy resumed.

In October, school officials became suspicious. On Oct. 25, Peterson was suspended.

Fernando said they were picnicking the next day at a lake, and a law enforcement officer left him two messages on his cell phone. He knew it was about Peterson.

"We didn't want to get in trouble," Fernando said. He feared not being able to see her again.

Within an hour, Fernando said, they were on the road, accompanied by Peterson's dog, Miley.

"She said, 'Let's go to Mexico.' I thought she was joking around. I'm, like, 'Let's go to Mexico then.'"

They drove through Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California, stopping along the way at a mall, a beach and Disneyland.

During a hearing last December, Peterson said she wasn't trying to run from the law. "In my thinking at the time, I really thought it all might just go away," she said.

Fernando said Wednesday that he became nervous on the trip. "I thought, 'How am I going to get back?' "

He called his mother from California and told her for the first time about the sexual nature of his relationship with Peterson. She began to yell; he hung up.

Peterson told Fernando not to use his cell phone, because she had seen a movie in which someone's whereabouts were traced that way.

Fernando nonetheless received text messages from friends in Lexington who informed him that Peterson's actions were being reported in the newspaper.

Peterson began to cry. Fernando said she told him they should travel farther into Mexico.

Fernando didn't resist but said he became weary.

"I was tired of running. I just wanted to go home."

Peterson's car was turned around at a checkpoint for lack of paperwork. Fernando stopped at a Mexicali mall restroom and, upon his return, found police with Peterson.

He said she screamed out that she loved him and to take care. He thinks he told her the same.

Authorities said she told them: "I am guilty, I admit it," and added: "I am not sure I would change it if I could."

Peterson called Fernando three times the next day, he said, but he was asleep. He said she left messages asking why he wasn't taking her calls.

The two haven't seen each other or spoken since their separation in Mexico.

Meanwhile, Fernando's attorney is confident that federal officials now will provide the necessary certification needed to apply for a special U visa for crime victims. That would open the door for Fernando, his mother and immediate family members to remain legally in the United States.

Fernando's mother, Maria Rodriguez, said Wednesday that she does not want to hear or know about the teacher who had sex with the middle of her three sons. His behavior changed for the worse during that time, she said, but has now started to return to an even keel.

The hardest thing, she said, was the three months that Fernando was unable to return to the United States. He stayed with friends of relatives until federal officials in February granted him a yearlong pass while the prosecution proceeded.

"He was so far away," his mom said. "I didn't know when I'd see him again."

The family has since moved to Grand Island, Neb., to regain privacy. Still, Fernando said he feels odd around teachers.

He'll be in high school this fall and wants to pursue a dream to play professional football for the Denver Broncos.

"I feel normal around friends," Fernando said. "With teachers, I have this feeling. They know what happened. I know they see me different than the other kids."

Asked to describe his feelings about Peterson, the teen shrugged his shoulders.

"I was, like, really attached to her. I don't think I feel the same way . . . but I still think about her."

Fernando said he feels somewhat responsible. He wavers at the notion of seeing her again. "It would feel weird. . . . I don't know what I'd say."

Leaning back on an Omaha hotel room chair so that his 2-year-old brother could hop onto his lap, Fernando said he just wants to "move on."

"I wish it was, like, all over."


• Contact the writer: 444-1224, cindy.gonzalez@owh.com

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10372637

The family has since moved to Grand Island, Neb., to regain privacy

Your privacy is busted big time, Fernando. Betcha he loves the attention the media is giving him. Otherwise why would he let the newspapers take his picture with his anchor baby brother and then tell everyone where he lives.

YES Kelsey is guilty but I am also certain this kid is one big huge LIAR who's embellishing the truth to try and look completely innocent. For one thing it has been reported that mom knew about the relationship long before Kelsey and Fernando took off for Mexico. Mom has also been reported that she used her kids to claim welfare benefits and those benefits included Fernando because he was under 16. Speaking of family values don't most parents know what their twelve year olds are doing? I know I always did. Oh never mind I forgot according to the media illegal aliens have the best family values and we have none. It was also reported that Fernando was living in a boys ranch for troubled youth. This is an example of how our hard earned tax dollars are spent-taking care of illegal alien children.

Peterson called Fernando three times the next day, he said, but he was asleep. He said she left messages asking why he wasn't taking her calls.

If you are in jail in Mexico are you really allowed to make phone calls-three of them? Really? What a crock!

See if you can find more inconsistences in his story. Related thread:

http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-520338.html