April Patzkowsky, 32-year-old former teacher's aide formerly at Kellogg Middle School, Battle Creek, Michigan, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the two counts of third degree criminal sexual conduct - she sexually assaulted a 14-year-old middle school student.
Patzkowsky, who took a plea deal last month, admitted to having sex with a 14-year-old student when she was working as a teacher's aide at W.K. Kellogg Middle School in Emmett Township.
Patzkowsky was accused of having sex several times with a 14-year-old student from the same school she was teaching between July and September 2010 but the sexual acts were alleged to have occurred at the home of another teacher who lives in Emmett Township and in a van after the boy snuck out of his home and met Patzkowsky. None of the alleged incidents occurred at the school. She was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct several months after the investigation began but eventually entered her plea in exchange for a dismissal of the more serious charges.
Although sentencing guidelines provided for a shorter minimum prison sentence, Calhoun Count Circuit Court Judge Conrad Sindt said an aggravating feature in the case was the length of time the relationship continued.
Patzkowsky's lawyer explained that she has lost her husband and children as a result of the relationship with the student and that her client will be enrolled in counseling to help better herself.
Patzkowsky and the student knew each other at the school but according to investigators they only began to spend time together after Patzkowsky went to a party at another teacher's home where the boy was babysitting.
Click here to read our previous news entry about April Patzkowsky's arrest or click here to see other sex crime cases featuring females in Michigan.
