Former Marshfield teacher sentenced Monday in student sex case, could be out in 120 days

A former Marshfield teacher, who previously pleaded guilty to felony sex crimes involving a 16-year-old female student, was sentenced Monday to seven years in prison.

But, she could be out in just 120 days.

Johnna Feazell, who was a coach and eighth-grade teacher in the Webster County district, pleaded guilty in August to felony charges of statutory sodomy, sexual contact with a student, tampering with physical evidence and tampering with a witness.

She faced as many as 10 years in prison for the sodomy charge.

Feazell, 48, appeared before Judge Kenneth Foster Thompson on Monday afternoon in Webster County. She was given the following sentences, to run concurrently:

​• Seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for statutory sodomy with placement in the sex offender assessment program.

• Four years in prison for sexual contact with a student.

• Four years in prison for tampering with physical evidence.

Additionally, she received a suspended execution of sentence of seven years for attempted victim tampering.

Nanci Gonder, spokeswoman for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office — which prosecuted the case — said placement in the Missouri Department of Corrections' sex offender assessment unit means Feazell could be released, on probation, after 120 days if she does well in the program.

Feazell also has to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life.

Feazell, who was employed as a teacher and coach in the Marshfield district for roughly 13 years, also agreed to surrender her teaching certificate.

Court documents showed Feazell reportedly developed a "mother/daughter" type relationship with the girl, starting when the girl was in seventh grade, and frequently took her to sporting events and other activities.

At some point, the district developed concerns about Feazell's relationship with the student. She was disciplined for "inappropriate conduct" and repeatedly told, in writing, to no longer have contact with the student.

In late 2013, the girl's parents went to the principal of the Marshfield High School and said they thought Feazell was having a sexual relationship with their daughter.

They became alarmed after finding that their daughter had a cell phone they didn't provide. The only contact in the phone was Feazell's number.

Around that time, Feazell had "deviate sexual intercourse" with the victim and enticed the teen, according to court documents. The teacher later told another teen to destroy a cell phone the teacher used and "all evidence," court documents say.

Feazell, who was the girls' track coach at the junior high when the allegations surfaced, previously coached basketball and softball. Hired by the Marshfield district in August 2000, she reached a "separation agreement" with the district in November 2014.