Former Orangefield teacher/coach sentenced

UPDATE (3:30 p.m. Thursday) - A judge has sentenced a former Orangefield Junior High teacher and coach to ten years in prison on each of three charges related to the sexual assault of a student, and Jennifer Burton will serve the time concurrently.

She must also register as a sex offender.

District Judge Pat Clark sentenced Jennifer Burton during a plea bargain hearing Thursday afternoon.

He sentenced her to ten years each on two charges of sexual assault and one charge of improper relationship between educator and student.   As part of the plea bargain, one charge of sexual assault and two charges of improper relationship were dismissed. 

The 39-year-old was indicted in April on three charges of sexual assault and three charges of improper relationship with a student.

Authorities say the teacher had a relationship with the 14-year-old girl from September to November of 2008.

Last Wednesday, Burton was put back in jail after her attorney and prosecutors agreed that her bond should be increased to $30,000 on each of the six charges against her.

The reason for the bond increase was never officially released.