Michigan Teacher Faces Prison In Teen Sex Case
GRAND RAPIDS (WWJ/AP) - A West Michigan teacher is expected to be sentenced to at least three to six years in prison under a plea deal in a sex case involving several teens.
Jamila Williams, 35, pleaded no contest Thursday in Kent County Circuit Court to four counts of criminal sexual conduct -- three in the third degree and one in the second degree. In return for her pleas, three additional criminal sexual conduct charges were dropped.
Williams wept as she entered the pleas. She is jailed ahead of an Oct. 15 sentencing date, at which time she could be handed down a prison term of up to 15 years.
Williams was charged earlier this summer after two male students, ages 15 and 16, told police they had inappropriate contact with the math teacher at multiple locations. After the case became public, police received similar complaints about Williams from two additional students, also ages 15 and 16, and brought additional charges.
Investigators say Williams had sex with the boys in a variety of locales between January and June, including at one of their homes, a Golden Corral restaurant and a motor vehicle, The Grand Rapids Press reported.
According to the school's website, Williams has taught in the Grand Rapids Public School system for six years, spending the last four years at University Prep Academy.
Williams, who has four children and two stepchildren ranging in age between three and 19, has since been suspended from her position and is not allowed to have any unsupervised contact with children younger than 16.
Williams' case is being processed in the Wyoming court system because her mother is an assistant city attorney in Grand Rapids.
A no contest plea isn't an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing.
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