The Alternative Press

As part of a plea deal, she  will receive life parole supervision, undergo a psychological evaluation at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel, forfeit her teaching license and never be able to seek public  employment. DePalo also must register as a sex offender under Megan's Law and cannot have contact with the victim. Her sentencing is scheduled for April 29  before the Honorable Peter V. Ryan. The defendant is expected to be given a 3-year suspended sentence with lifelong parole supervision. After fifteen years, she cay apply for relief from parole supervision.

 

Initially charged with aggravated sexual assault and a second count of sexual assault (the student was 15 and could not consent). Those charges were dropped as part of the agreement. If DePalo had been convicted on those counts, she could have received a ten year sentence.

 

According to a news report on Nj.com, this morning "DePalo appeared in court dressed in a gray pencil skirt and suit jacket, her brown hair pulled tightly back in a bun. She told Judge Peter Ryan that on June 27, 2012 a 15-year-old boy who was also her student came to her Montclair apartment after school and the two had sexual intercourse. As she left the courtroom with her attorney, Anthony Alfano, DePalo declined to comment and wiped tears from her eyes."

 

The victim visited DePalo at her apartment during that time and the two had sexual relations on more than one occasion. He had been a student in one of her English classes.

 

Assistant Prosecutor Tony Gutierrez said he spoke with the boy's father, who said  the family was happy with the deal.  Gutierrez noted that text messages were found between the two  which "made it clear they were in something of a relationship." Prosecutors  said the relationship was the only one DePalo had with a minor and that it lasted from June 15 until Aug. 28. “This is a just resolution of the case because it frees the victim from having to testify in open court,” said Gutierrez. “The victim’s family is also relieved that their son can now move forward.”

 

 "It's fair to say everybody wanted to get this over and done with," Gutierrez said, saying that the plea came before the grand jury trial.

 

Interim School Superintendent James O'Neill posted a statement regarding the plea deal this afternoon on the West Orange School District website: