Former Turlock teachers sentenced

Two former Turlock Christian Schools teachers were sentenced to jail time Tuesday on charges they tried to arrange group sex with a 16-year-old student.

The husband-and-wife defendants, Amy and Justin Northcutt, will serve two and three months in jail, respectively, under the terms of the plea deal. The Northcutts must register as sex offenders, attend sex offender counseling and stay away from the victim. Both are set to surrender to jail by the end of November.

The Northcutts each pleaded no contest to one felony count of "harmful matter sent with intent of seduction of a minor" on Oct. 2 in Stanislaus County Superior Court.

Deputy District Attorney Elaine Casillas said Justin Northcutt, once a substitute teacher at Turlock Christian's junior high and high schools, asked for the girl's cell phone number during the final days of the school year in 2008.

From May 30 to June 2, both Northcutts sent the girl text messages in an attempt to get her to have sex with them, Casillas said. Amy Northcutt was the girl's teacher, Casillas said. They were arrested June 2.

There was no evidence of sexual contact between the Northcutts and the girl or evidence of other victims, police said.