Teacher accused of sex with 11 boys

Teacher accused of sex with 11 boys

A 41-year-old teacher in Tipton, Tennesse, in the US, has been accused of having sex with 11 of her students.

Prosecutors believe Cindy Clifton has been charged with more offences against under age children than any other teacher in America in the last decade.

She is facing a total of 53 charges that could see her jailed for more than 60 years.

Clifton is alleged to have had sex with 11 different students between April and July of this year.

Investigators say Clifton plied the teens with alcohol and then had sex with them in her home in Covington, Tennessee.

Many of the students are thought to have been friends of her teenage daughter who attended the alcohol fuelled parties.

Clifton's victims were all aged between 14 and 17 with several from the Middle School where she was a popular reading teacher.

Cindy Clifton has been charged with more offences against under age children than any other teacher in America in the last decade

She faces 14 counts of rape by an authority figure, 11 counts of aggravated statutory rape, 14 counts of furnishing alcohol to minors and 14 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The most serious charges of rape carry a six year sentence.

Police in Covington launched an investigation in August after the principal of Crestview Middle School received a complaint of inappropriate behaviour involving Clifton.

After a three month investigation a Grand Jury returned a 53 count indictment against Clifton.

Her attorney Blake Ballin denied the charges claiming that Clifton was a "devoted wife, hardworking teacher and faithful member of her church."

In a statement, Tipton County Schools Director William Bibb said: "Obviously, we are deeply saddened by the charges that have been brought against his teacher."

! "The Tip ton County School System has cooperated with local authorities. Our priority is to continue to take all appropriate steps to ensure a safe learning environment for our students."

Clifton, who wept in her police booking photo, was released on US$40,000 (RM126,080) bail butwas due to appearin court on Thursday where she will face the 53 charges.
Source: Daily Mail, UK

Published Nov 10 2011