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Local - Crime & Courts

Friday, Oct. 02, 2009

Ex-teachers plead no contest to trying to seduce teen girl

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MODESTO -- Two former Turlock Christian Schools teachers pleaded no contest this morning in Stanislaus County Superior Court to felony charges after being accused of trying to arrange group sex with a 16-year-old student by cell phone.

The husband-and-wife defendants — Amy and Justin Northcutt — will serve two and three months in jail, respectively, under the plea deal. The Northcutts must register as sex offenders, attend sex-offender counseling and stay away from the victim.

"We're glad they finally (owned) up to what they did," the victim's cousin said after the court hearing. "We just want to move on now."

The Northcutts each pleaded no contest to one felony count of "harmful matter sent with intent of seduction of a minor."

They will be sentenced Oct. 27 when the victim's family will make statements to a judge.

"They know they have some responsibility and they wanted to do the right thing … by not putting the victim through having to testify," said Bruce Perry, Justin Northcutt's lawyer.

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 Amy and Justin Northcutt sent the girl text messages to seduce her into having sex with them, Casillas said. Amy Northcutt was the girl's teacher, Casillas said.

They were arrested June 2, shortly after the school year ended. There was no evidence of sexual contact between the Northcutts and the girl or evidence of other victims, police said.

The Northcutts will be eligible to have their charges reduced to misdemeanors after three years on probation. Casillas said she would not object "as long as they stay out of trouble."

If the charges were reduced, the Northcutts would no longer be required to be registered as sex offenders, said Amy Northcutt's attorney, Bob Chase.

Bee staff writer Merrill Balassone can be reached at mbalassone@modbee.com or 578-2337.