Justine Nelson faces up to three years in prison

Middle School Teacher Committed Sex Crime Against 14-Year-Old Boy, But Claimed She Was ‘Coerced’

A former Fresno middle school teacher was found guilty Tuesday of a sex act on a 14-year-old boy, according to multiple news reports.

A jury also found that Justine Nelson, 33, was not guilty of the more serious charge of a lewd or lascivious act with a minor.

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According to the Fresno Bee, Nelson faces up to three years in prison. She will have to register as a sex offender, ABC 30 reports.

After the verdict, Nelson, who is married and pregnant with her second child, broke down.

“I am just thankful it’s over,” Nelson said, according to the Fresno Bee. “I can now move on with my life and focus on my family.”

Nelson, a former Tenaya Middle School teacher, was accused of performing the sex act on the boy while in her classroom, as well as sending him semi-nude photographs of herself.

The boy, who is now 16, told the jury last week that it was Nelson who started the physical contact. He also alleged that the two had sex numerous times in between and after school in her classroom, the Bee reports.

During closing statements, Deputy District Attorney Liz Owen said Nelson denied having a relationship with the student but had kidded with detectives about “hooking up with a 14-year-old,” the Associated Press reports.

Nelson admitted that she gave the boy oral sex but her attorney said she had been coerced after he threatened to tell people about their relationship, according to ABC 30.

The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office could not be reached for comment. Nor could Nelson’s attorney.

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According to the Bee, the student and his family have sued Fresno Unified School District, seeking damages for negligence, sexual battery and sexual misconduct.