Student Claims He Was Pressured Into Sex With Teacher
Friday, Mar 27, 2009 | Updated 8:24 AM PDT
35-year-old Adrienne Feistel seen her in a picture from her Facebook page. Relatives say the former teacher is in the process of a divorce from her husband, who is a sheriff's deputy.
A former San Diego elementary school teacher has pleaded not guilty to having a sexual relationship with a boy she met when he was in her fifth-grade class.
Adrienne Feistel, 35, is facing ten felony counts of lewd acts on a child. Prosecutors say the relationship started when the boy, a former student of Feistel's, was 14 years old. A search warrant says she lived with his family for a short time.
The search warrant also says the personal relationship started with text messages then in 2006, the two kissed.
The warrant describes that kissing leading to several, much more sexual encounters lasting up until 2008. The student also claims he felt pressured by Feistel.
Feistel taught fifth grade at Rosa Parks Elementary School in City Heights. She was on a leave of absence from the school when the relationship started in 2006, and resigned a short time later. The district would not comment.
According to a relative and a neighbor, Feistel is married to a sheriff's deputy, and in the process of being divorced.
"That is very surprising," said Carmen Cruz, a neighbor. Cruz is not only surprised at the allegations, she's concerned because her grandchildren go to a neighborhood daycare where Feistel has recently filled in watching the children.
"I am probably going to call the daycare provideer and ask further questions," said Cruz.
Prosecutors say because the student was under 14 when the alleged relationship started, Feistel could face several years in prison, if convicted.
"It will be prison because there was what we call substantial sexual contact, and in this case, it wasn't just touching," said prosecutor Wendy Patrick-Mazzarella.
Feistel pleaded not guilty this week to all the counts against her. She's scheduled to be back in court on April 6th.
