In just the past year and a half, three area educators—all women—confessed to having inappropriate relationships with high school students. However, all avoided jail time, managing to get off with only probation. Some are calling that the “legal equivalent” of simply a slap on the wrist.
“That’s a good question. There’s definitely a double standard there,” according to attorney Chuck Lanehart, who represented both Marricle and Warren. “I guess it’s just human nature, that people treat males differently than females when it comes to sex offenses.”
Both of Lanehart’s former clients, just like Kristen Neill, had no criminal record, whatsoever. That will remain the case, if they abide by the terms of their probation. That’s because all three received “Deferred Adjudication,” a form of probation in which a defendant is not found guilty of the crime. If the defendant completes probation, the case is dismissed.
