The former Ohio middle school teacher who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing her daughter’s teenage babysitter in August has been sentenced for her heinous crimes.
Stefanie Erin Kellenberger, 41, was sentenced to 15 years behind bars for having a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old, the Richland Source reported.
Kellenberger, an ex-sixth-grade English instructor at Shelby Middle School, had pleaded guilty to four counts of third-degree felony sexual battery and 17 counts of third-degree felony unlawful sexual conduct with a minor on Aug. 1.
Prior to pleading guilty, she was presented with two options by prosecutors for her crimes: either 12 years flat prison time or 15 years with the possibility of judicial release after 10 years. She opted for the second option.
The sicko ex-teacher will also be required to register as a Tier III sex offender and re-register every 90 days for the rest of her life when she is released from prison.
Judge Brent Robinson assured the court that the 15-year sentence may be served in its entirety.
“Don’t let anybody be confused, this is a 15-year prison sentence with the hope that you (Kellenberger) come back in 10 years and you’ve been a model inmate — you’ve done everything you were supposed to do (and) you haven’t got in any trouble at all,” Robinson said, according to the Richland Source.
Kellenberger also agreed to permanently surrender her teaching license, refrain from having any future contact with the victim, and spend five years on parole upon her release from prison.
At the time the abuse started in February 2020, Kellenberger’s victim was just 13 years old, with the teacher starting to have sex with the girl after she turned 14 and continuing until she turned 16.
Kellenberger was put on paid administrative leave in February 2024 after her abuse came to light.
During her sentencing, she apologized to her victim, who also worked as a babysitter for her daughter.
“I know that during this time, you were just a child and I was an adult in a position of trust. I’m responsible for everything that happened between us,” Kellenberger said.
“I put you in a position that no 14- or 15-year-old should ever have to be in. I’m so sorry for all of the emotional pain and hurt that I’ve caused you. I hope that my guilty pleas and this sentence will provide some degree of closure for you as you move on with your life.”
She also took the time to apologize to her young daughter.
“I deeply regret the position that I have put all of them in and the impact that this will have on my child,” Kellenberger said.
“I fully accept the consequences of my actions and the sentence that I will be receiving today.”
