McKEESPORT, Pa. — A former teacher’s aide in the Mckeesport Area School District who pleaded guilty to having sex with four teenagers was sentenced Tuesday.
Michelle Mellinger, 49, who worked in special education, was sentenced to 11 1/2 to 23 months in prison, one year of house arrest and five years of probation.
Mellinger blamed alcohol for a two-year period during which she had sex with the teenagers. It is unclear if the victims were special education students. %
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None of the victims’ families were in court Tuesday, but the prosecutor read a victim impact statement from the mother of one of the teenagers. It said, “Her family is forever changed ... Her son is depressed and doesn't trust any of his teachers.”
Mellinger sent text messages to the teenagers, asking them to meet at her White Oak apartment. She pleaded guilty in the spring to having sex with them during the 2015 school year.
In one of the text messages, Mellinger said, “Wow, you look amazing. I just became a pedophile.” She told another student that he was “on her bucket list.”
The judge was not impressed by a handwritten letter sent by Mellinger. The judge said Mellinger did not take responsibility for her actions and only made excuses for herself.