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Former Teacher Facing Sex Charges

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Posted: 11:09 AM Jul 16, 2008
Last Updated: 11:09 AM Jul 16, 2008
Reporter: Bill Wilson

27 comments

A | A | A

Another teacher in Eastern Carolina is accused of having sex with a former student.

Sampson County deputies have charged Jeannie Hodges with statutory rape, sexual offense with a student and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Deputies say the 39-year-old Hodges was carrying on an affair with the 15-year-old boy. Investigators say they received a complaint two weeks ago that Hodges had the affair with the student while she was a teacher.

Investigators say the 15 year-old had stayed overnight at Hodges' home on multiple occasions and the woman was very open about her relationship with the student.

Hodges taught at Hobbton Middle School, and investigators say the relationship started toward the end of the school year. Hodges is no longer employed by the school system.

She is in the Sampson County jail on a $50,000 bond.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Greenville on Jul 21, 2008 at 06:27 AM
As a teacher, I am sick of hearing about other teachers facing drug charges or sleeping with their students. I want to hear about those teachers who take their summer vacation to work with students in summer school or provide extra programs to students who need them throughout the year. Those teachers that do bad things never really wanted to be teachers, I guess; they are making it bad for the rest of us who bust our backside trying to make a difference.

Posted by: Obama 08 4 Prez! on Jul 21, 2008 at 02:21 AM
You can certainly tell the men from the women on this blog. Most of the men don't see the problem. All of the women are thinking, "That teacher better be glad that wasn't my son". LOL Guys ready to pat him on the back.

Posted by: AnotherReason2Homeschool Location: ENC on Jul 20, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Not even talking about sex outside of marriage is SIN! But parents should be able to send their children to school and feel safe that the adults there are moral enough to not be having sex with children. This is the result of not having moral laws to govern us; but then, God was kicked out of public school years ago. And then we wonder why we have these type of things happening. And sadly, it is becoming more and more the norm. I am so thankful for the option to home school. This is a two fold option. One- to keep my children safe from these sorts of predators whether they be peers or teachers. Two- to instill that moral law in my children so they know what is right from what is wrong.

Posted by: SomeWhere on Jul 18, 2008 at 02:03 PM
Well what about when a 15 year old sleeps with another 15 year old and makes a baby. OR the age can be younger. That should be a law. At least this woman was smart enough not to get pregnant. If he was with someone his age I am sure we would all be paying for the baby now.

Posted by: PHR Location: Merry Hill on Jul 18, 2008 at 10:30 AM
I am disgusted that anyone can say that this is OK. "He knew what he was doing." Give me a break! Most 20 year olds don't know what they're doing let alone a 15 year old BOY. There is a reason there are statutory rape laws in place and that is to protect those that either due to their age and/or immaturity cannot protect themselves. It is true that some 18 year olds may not be mature enough to consent to sex either, but a line has to be drawn somewhere. A 39 year old woman (teacher or not) having sex with a 15 year old certainly crosses that line.

Posted by: Lizziy Location: camp hill on Jul 18, 2008 at 09:14 AM
I am a mother! and if i found out my son was sleeping with the teacher I wouldn't freak out. it's not my place to step in. I agree with others that this has been going on for ever! so why start craking down on it now. she hopefully tault him safe sex and isn't treating them kids any different.. it's their life let it be. if she want's to mess around with a underage kid let her.. it's her life and his parents i'm sure knew about it. where else would there son be.. so it's just common sense that if the parents don't care just let it go. it's not that big of a deal.

Posted by: mom Location: greenville on Jul 18, 2008 at 08:14 AM
You people must not have children..or at the very least teenagers. Children (except mine of course) don't always do what they tell you they are going to do. They try hard to pull one over on their parents. Come on..you've all done it. So to say the parents knew what was going on and condoned it is in all likelihood ludicrous. However, they should keep a closer eye on their child. And to "someone"...LOVE? You're kidding, right?

Posted by: confused in greenville on Jul 17, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Why is it that some feel that laws are different for others? The way I feel is that if one breaks the law they should be punished. Teachers are in a position to help these kids this day in time. Without teachers we would be nothing. So shouldn't they be charged to the fullest extent for taking advantage of kids that parents put in a position to trust with their kids. What is the difference between rape and robbery?

Posted by: devil's advocate Location: nc on Jul 17, 2008 at 01:08 PM
She was teaching him the ways of the world! Hopefully, she was teaching him safe sex! Older women have been teaching younger men about this for centuries! Would it have been so newsworthy if her occupation were something besides teacher? It is always easy to cast the first stone and to judge others without ALL the facts!!!

Posted by: Response to Somewhere on Jul 17, 2008 at 09:36 AM
His parents do not have the authority to make what happened "OK". As a parent, it concerns me that they are either oblivious to what their son was doing and where he was or either they don't care. What the teacher did is a felony by the North Carolina General Statues, and the teacher should be held responsible for crossing the line of having sex with a student. The example you gave was a 25 year old being with someone 38 - both of these individuals are "consenting adults". You obviously have issues with this relationship - the one of the teacher and teenage is a 24 year age difference - and one of the participants is a minor who does not have the authority to give consent to having a sexual relationship with an adult 24 years his senior. An adult in her position should know that there are great responsibilities that come with being a teacher and she crossed every line drawn by her profession and should be made an example of. I hope the courts will prosecute her to the fullest extent

Posted by: Obama 08 4 Prez! on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Along with the terrible pay, and the bad examples these kind of "teachers" are setting no wonder there is a teacher shortage. Teaching will not be what I retire from, its a way to pay for my children's college. It's a thankless job, with more headaches than you can imagine. Then another teacher will have an affair with a student. It almost makes me ashamed to tell people my occupation.

Posted by: LD Location: NC on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:33 PM
The punishment for these teacher's having sex with students must be a slap on the hand because how many does this make in the past 2 years?Both the Teacher,Student,and Parents should be punished..He is a minor but he knew what he was doing also..

Posted by: Dave Location: Greenville on Jul 16, 2008 at 08:37 PM
Again people, and you call this the BIBLE BELT???

Posted by: Somewhere on Jul 16, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Well what about when when a 38 year old is married to a 25 year old also. That is common around here alot of older people with younger people. True his only 15, but 3 more years it would be no big deal. His parents must of thought it was ok.

Posted by: Response to Somewhere on Jul 16, 2008 at 04:50 PM
It matters because he is a minor and what she did is against the law. That is why there are laws against having sex with minors - to protect them against predators. This woman is over twice his age and in a position as an authority figure over him - she took advantage of his inexperience and her teaching position. I seriously doubt she "loves" this young boy...she probably can not maintain a healthy relationsip with a man her age and that is why she choose to violate this teenager. Attitudes like yours are appaulding people who try to abide the laws of our state and country. I seriously wonder if you have the same stand if it was your son. I hope WITN 7 will investigate further to find out why he was staying the night at her home and why his parents were allowing him to be there (if they knew).

Posted by: g vagas Location: greenville on Jul 16, 2008 at 04:02 PM
10 years ago the boys were smart enough to keep there mouth shut. what is wrong with this generation?

Posted by: Somewhere on Jul 16, 2008 at 03:41 PM
What the heck does it matter. The boy knew what he was doing. If it is love,it is love. Let it be. Good gosh if he wanted a sex with another 15 year old it would of been ok. So what if she was 39.

Posted by: Citizen Location: Eastern NC on Jul 16, 2008 at 02:52 PM
I agree that this lady she be punished for her actions, but at the same time the boy and his parents need to be punished also. According to the article the lady was very opened about the relationship so it does not sound like it was a hidden relationship. Next the parents had let him stay at this lady's house on several occassions. This boy is 15 years old and he knows right from wrong also so he should be punished for his actions too. The teacher needs to be punished because she was a teacher and he was a student.

Posted by: Parent Location: Williamston, NC on Jul 16, 2008 at 01:38 PM
The teacher committed a felony pursuant to NCGS 17-27.7(b) and should be made an example of - if the court system would expedite the full sentence allowed by law maybe it would send a message to other adults in the position of "teachers". As a parent, it outrages me to think one of my teenage children could be molested by a teacher employed to teach and be an example. As far as the 15 year giving consent, pursuant to the laws of the State of NC a 15 year old can not consent to having sexual acts with someone 24 years their senior. This woman is probably the same age as the child's mother. I hope she will be made an example of once this trial goes to court. Thank you WITN 7 for making the public aware.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 16, 2008 at 01:37 PM
So parents do you let your child stay over night without checking to see exactly where he is, or do you say ok, I see you tomorrow. Parents wake up and check on this children. This story could have ended in a death and you still be in the dark as to where your child is.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 16, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Oh PLEASE Spare us ..... There must of been something he did for her for the relationship to have gone on. You are right about the gender thing tho. If it were a male teacher he would already have been convicted by the people on here. Either way you are correct again it should not have happened yet, the boy knew what he was doing and he could have stopped it if he had of wanted to. Wrong is wrong and she should be punished.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Greenville on Jul 16, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Teachers, preachers, sheriff deputies, Police chiefs, Board of Education members, .... Time to clean up Eastern NC.

Posted by: Oh PLEASE Spare us Location: In Reality... on Jul 16, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Even IF and a big IF, a 15 Yr. old has problems keeping his hormones in check, a GROWN woman has no business offering to "help" him out! What makes matters worse is the fact that she was his TEACHER, and she was in charge of his safety and well being while he was SUPPOSE to be learning! If the tide's were turned and a 30 year old man was sleeping with his 15 yr. old female student there would already be 900 comments on this site and people lined up around the school protesting something or another! Basically everybody creates double standards for female teachers and they by FAR get less time than MALE teachers with equal criminal charges! It is disgusting either way you look at, there is NOTHING a 15 yr. old can do for a grown woman, hell he can't even legally work in the U.S.!

Posted by: Tammy Location: Williamston on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Good Lawd, could she not get a man her own age? Messing with these girls and boys, I tell you, what are the teaches teaching: how to malest kids? Maybe the school system need to hire all teachers thats age 65 , think that will help out some? NOT!! cause its some out there that will try even at that age. Its sad

Posted by: MW Location: RM on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:27 AM
I had an ongoing relationship with one of my teachers when I was in 9th grade. I was 15 and she was 36. I was well aware of what I was doing, as she was- so the "he is just a kid" logic is not an accurate one. I wanted it just as much as she did and it finally did come to light when her son (my best friend) caught us together. To this day I am still friends with her. We do not have a sexual relationship, but more of a "good friend" one even with our age difference. I am not scarred for life or in anyway feel violated. Was it right-- not in many peoples eyes, but don't think this young man is the innocent one here either. It takes two to tango and at 15 your hormones are running rampant.

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:24 AM
What in the heck is wrong with these women? You've got to have a screw loose somewhere I guess.

Posted by: Chris Location: Windsor on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:17 AM
They should throw the book at her!

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