Jessica Heather Defoor, 35 (Decatur Police Dept. / August 3, 2009)
DECATUR, AL -
A Decatur teacher is accused of sex crimes against a child between 12 and 16 years old. Jessica Heather Defoor, 35, was arrested today. She had been on leave from her job at Danville Neel Elementary School, where she taught second grade.
Police arrested Defoor on Monday morning. She has been on leave from the school for some time, and was arrested on a warrant in July 2008.
A Morgan County grand jury returned a two-count indictment on Defoor last month. The first count charges that Defoor enticed a child under age 16 with lascivious intent to propose an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy or other sexual acts, in violation of Code of Alabama Section 13A-6-69. The second count charges that Defoor committed second-degree sexual abuse by subjecting a child aged less than 16 years old and older than 12 to sexual contact, in violation of Section 13A-6-67.
"Children are vulnerable and deserve our protection from those who would take advantage of their innocence," said Attorney General Troy King. "I have dedicated my Family Protection Unit to this important mission, and we are committed to safeguarding the children of Alabama from those who would abuse and harm them."
If convicted, Defoor faces a maximum penalty of one to 10 years in prison for the enticement charge, which is a class C felony; and to one year imprisonment for second-degree sexual abuse, a class A misdemeanor.
The alleged crime was discovered when the victim shared the information with a teacher, and school officials reported the matter to authorities.
Police arrested Defoor on Monday morning. She has been on leave from the school for some time, and was arrested on a warrant in July 2008.
A Morgan County grand jury returned a two-count indictment on Defoor last month. The first count charges that Defoor enticed a child under age 16 with lascivious intent to propose an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy or other sexual acts, in violation of Code of Alabama Section 13A-6-69. The second count charges that Defoor committed second-degree sexual abuse by subjecting a child aged less than 16 years old and older than 12 to sexual contact, in violation of Section 13A-6-67.
"Children are vulnerable and deserve our protection from those who would take advantage of their innocence," said Attorney General Troy King. "I have dedicated my Family Protection Unit to this important mission, and we are committed to safeguarding the children of Alabama from those who would abuse and harm them."
If convicted, Defoor faces a maximum penalty of one to 10 years in prison for the enticement charge, which is a class C felony; and to one year imprisonment for second-degree sexual abuse, a class A misdemeanor.
The alleged crime was discovered when the victim shared the information with a teacher, and school officials reported the matter to authorities.
