Former teacher sentenced

Today, Circuit Court Judge Richard R. Vance sentenced Kristi Dance Oakes, a former teacher at Seymour High School, to serve six months in jail and the balance on supervised probation with community Corrections, for having sexual relations with a 16 year old former student. He ordered that she register with the Sexual Offender Registry and receive counseling while on probation and that she pay all of the court costs. Ms. Oakes had previously pled guilty to statutory rape and agreed to a sentence of 18 months with the method and matter to be left to the court. The Defense requested the court grant her Judicial Diversion or in the alternative probation, both which were opposed by the State. The State requested that the court require her to serve time because of the seriousness of the offense and to send a message to others in the community who hold such positions of trust with children to deter them from attempting to do similar acts.