DELAND — Former New Smyrna Beach Middle School teacher Stephanie Peterson was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison, followed by two years of community control, for having sex with a 14-year-old student.

The 27-year-old Peterson must also serve five years' sex offender probation following community control, which is house arrest, and must register as a sex offender for the rest of her life.

Peterson turned with a grief-stricken face toward her family while she was being fingerprinted. As she was led away with her hands cuffed behind her back, she turned to look toward her family and friends as her mother was bent over in her seat weeping. Others in the group also cried or dabbed at their eyes.

Peterson took the stand earlier at her sentencing and read quickly from a statement.

"I wish I could make it clear how regretful I am for what has occurred," Peterson said looking down as she read. "If I could say one thing to the victim, it would have to be that I'm sorry, two words used too often without much meaning but I can honestly say with everything in my heart that I mean it to its truest definition."

Peterson, who by reading from a statement meant she was not subject to questioning by prosecutors, said she hopes to atone by doing good and helping others the rest of her life.

"It's all a huge misfortune what has happened. And I hope I'll be able to make things right by staying on medication and attending regular therapy."

She said she knows her actions are unforgivable.

"Teaching was the most meaningful thing in my life and it's all I wanted to do growing up," Peterson said. "Knowing I was in a position of power and misused that power to negatively influence one's life is a morbid thought I have to think about all day every day."

Peterson pleaded guilty Oct. 16 to lewd and lascivious battery sex act with a child, a second-degree felony, and electronic transmission of material harmful to minors, a third-degree felony. As part of the plea agreement Peterson faced between five and 10 years in prison and probation.

But defense attorneys Aaron Delgado and William Hathaway could ask for a lower sentence, which they did citing Peterson's mental health struggles with bipolar disorder. They asked that she not be sentenced to prison. Delgado said she had entered a guilty plea, thus sparing the child having to appear at a trial.

Assistant State Attorney Rebecca Emert asked for six to 10 years in prison, saying Peterson had betrayed a trust placed on her by parents to safeguard their children when they are in school. Emert pointed to testimony that Peterson had used marijuana, alcohol and cocaine which should negate mitigation based on mental illness.

But Delgado argued that Peterson suffered from bi-polar disorder before taking any drugs.

And Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano ruled that Peterson's mental illness supported going below the minimum five-year prison sentence.

"You are mentally ill and you're going to be mentally ill for the rest of your life," Zambrano said.

But he said she had to pay for her mistake.

"Your actions have life long consequences to you and to this child for the rest of his life," Zambrano said. "That memory will never be taken away from him, neither will it be taken from you."

Zambrano also counseled Peterson not to try to kill herself, which would only create more victims among her family.

"Taking your own life will not make this go away," Zambrano said.

[READ MORE: Former NSB middle school teacher Stephanie Peterson, who had sex with student faces prison]

[READ MORE: Teacher accused of sex told NSB middle school student to "Delete everything" on Snapchat.]

[READ MORE: Former NSB Middle School teacher accused of sex with eight-grader.]

[READ MORE: Former NSB Middle School teacher pleads guilty to sex with student.]

Peterson had testified that after her arrest she tried to commit suicide in the back of the police car but her earring was not sharp enough. She said that she later contemplated killing herself with a gun.

Earlier, the victim's mother took the stand and called for Peterson to be sent to prison for the maximum 10 years. She said her once funny, lighthearted son has grown reserved and angry. She said he is now in high school where some students have taunted him about having sex with his teacher. She said Peterson should not get any breaks because she was a woman.

"The sexual abuse inflicted on him by someone he trusted and liked so much has left him hardened. He is now untrustworthy of new people and even old friends," the mother said through tears.

She left the courtroom quickly after the sentencing along with the child's grandmother.

Psychologist Lisa Potash testified earlier that Peterson was in the midst of a manic state when she had sex with the 14-year-old student and was disgusted with herself when she realized what she had done.

"I'm supposed to protect children not hurt them," Potash quoted Stephanie Peterson saying to her.

Potash testified that Peterson's motivation for having sex with the student had little to do with sexual gratification and very much to do with looking for attention and manifestation of delusional behavior.

"I strongly feel that there is a very low risk that Ms. Peterson would ever reoffend of a sexual nature, very low," Potash testified.

If convicted at trial, Peterson would have faced up to 15 years on the second-degree and up to five on the third-degree. Prosecutors also dropped a second count of lewd or lascivious sex battery as part of the plea.

Peterson's family and friends packed the defense side and included members from a bi-polar support group she regularly attended after her arrest and release from a psychiatric treatment facility.

Peterson's mother, Johnna Peterson, also took the stand and speaking to the victim's family said she was very sorry for her daughter's actions. She also said her daughter was very remorseful.

Peterson's father, attorney Phil Peterson, also said the family was very sorry for what had happened and was willing to pay restitution. Zambrano later asked her if she had an amount for restitution and she said they were not at that point yet.

Stephanie Peterson’s attorneys said they would no longer argue as one of the mitigating circumstances that the 14-year-old student had been "a willing participant.”

The interactions between Peterson and the student occurred between Nov. 1, 2017, and Jan. 31, 2018. It started when Peterson lent the teen her smartphone so he could check his Instagram account. The teen left himself signed on and later that day received a message from her on his own account.

The communication continued through Snapchat with Peterson sending the teen nude pictures, including one of herself in the shower in which her face is clearly visible.

Stephanie Peterson drove to his house at night and he would sneak out to meet her. They had sexual intercourse in her car in the driveway, a report states. Peterson gave him oral sex on her couch in her house and twice in a barn behind his home.

The situation was revealed when a different teacher called the teen’s home to offer to tutor him, prompting his mother to jokingly ask him if the teacher was going to molest him. The teen then started crying and blurted out, “Anyone could molest you.”

Peterson later told the teen to "Delete everything" on Snapchat.

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